Using virtual simulations of future extreme weather events to communicate climate change risk

Terry van Gevelt, Brian G McAdoo, Jie Yang, Linlin Li, Fiona Williamson, Alex Scollay, Aileen Lam, Kwan Nok Chan and Adam D Switzer

PLOS Climate, 2023, vol. 2, issue 2, 1-13

Abstract: Virtual simulations of future extreme weather events may prove an effective vehicle for climate change risk communication. To test this, we created a 3D virtual simulation of a future tropical cyclone amplified by climate change. Using an experimental framework, we isolated the effect of our simulation on risk perceptions and individual mitigation behaviour for a representative sample (n = 1507) of the general public in Hong Kong. We find that exposure to our simulation is systematically associated with a relatively small decrease in risk perceptions and individual mitigation behaviour. We suggest that this is likely due to climate change scepticism, motivation crowding, geographical and temporal distance, high-risk thresholds, feelings of hopelessness, and concerns surrounding the immersiveness of the virtual simulation.

Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pclm00:0000112

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pclm.0000112

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