Extreme weather event attribution predicts climate policy support across the world

Viktoria Cologna (), Simona Meiler, Chahan M. Kropf, Samuel Lüthi, Niels G. Mede, David N. Bresch, Oscar Lecuona, Sebastian Berger, John Besley, Cameron Brick, Marina Joubert, Edward W. Maibach, Sabina Mihelj, Naomi Oreskes, Mike S. Schäfer and Sander van der Linden
Additional contact information
Viktoria Cologna: ETH Zurich
Simona Meiler: ETH Zurich
Chahan M. Kropf: ETH Zurich
Samuel Lüthi: ETH Zurich
Niels G. Mede: University of Zurich
David N. Bresch: ETH Zurich
Oscar Lecuona: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Sebastian Berger: University of Bern
John Besley: Michigan State University
Cameron Brick: University of Amsterdam
Marina Joubert: Stellenbosch University
Edward W. Maibach: George Mason University
Sabina Mihelj: Loughborough University
Naomi Oreskes: Harvard University
Mike S. Schäfer: University of Zurich
Sander van der Linden: University of Cambridge

Nature Climate Change, 2025, vol. 15, issue 7, 725-735

Abstract: Abstract Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. Yet, little is known about the relationship between exposure to extreme events, subjective attribution of these events to climate change, and climate policy support, especially in the Global South. Combining large-scale natural and social science data from 68 countries (N = 71,922), we develop a measure of exposed population to extreme weather events and investigate whether exposure to extreme weather and subjective attribution of extreme weather to climate change predict climate policy support. We find that most people support climate policies and link extreme weather events to climate change. Subjective attribution of extreme weather was positively associated with policy support for five widely discussed climate policies. However, exposure to most types of extreme weather event did not predict policy support. Overall, these results suggest that subjective attribution could facilitate climate policy support.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-025-02372-4

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