Ten-year panel data confirm generation gap but climate beliefs increase at similar rates across ages

Taciano L. Milfont (), Elena Zubielevitch, Petar Milojev and Chris G. Sibley
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Taciano L. Milfont: University of Waikato
Elena Zubielevitch: University of Auckland
Petar Milojev: University of Auckland
Chris G. Sibley: University of Auckland

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates that climate change awareness and concern has increased globally, but commentators suggest a climate change generation gap whereby younger people care more about climate change than older people. Here we use a decade of panel data from 56,513 New Zealanders to test whether belief that “Climate change is real” and “Climate change is caused by humans” increased over the 2009-2018 period; and whether changes are uniform across 12 five-year birth cohorts spanning those born from 1936 to 1995. Results confirm a generation gap in mean (intercept) climate change beliefs but not in over-time increase (slope). The generation gap occurs because older cohorts started from a lower initial belief level (circa 2009), but all age cohorts increased their belief level at a similar rate over the last decade; and these results were not qualified by respondents’ gender. The findings offer hope for collective action that bridges efforts across generations.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24245-y

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