Visions of Tomorrow: Emotional drivers of climate change mitigation and adaptation intentions

Abstract

This research explores the effects of exposure to utopian vs. dystopian vs. neutral visions of the future (with regards to environmental sustainability or unsustainability) on individuals’ intentions to mitigate and to adapt to climate change, through emotional arousal. In two pre-registered experimental studies, participants were randomly assigned to read about a utopian, dystopian, or neutral vision of future society. In Study 1 (N = 303), behavioural intentions, emotional responses to the scenario (fear, anger, sadness, hope and happiness), the ability to imagine a positive future, and beliefs about sustainable futures were assessed. Results indicated no direct effects of the visions on behavioural intentions, future imagination, or beliefs. However, exposure to a utopian (vs. neutral) and a dystopian (vs. neutral) vision indirectly affect both mitigation and adaptation intentions through feelings of hope (increased and decreased, respectively). Study 2 (N = 401) partially replicated the findings of Study 1. As expected, exposure to a utopian and a dystopian vision indirectly affect mitigation intentions through feelings of hope (increased and decreased, respectively). Adaptation intentions, however, were predicted by happiness rather than hope. These findings highlight the role of positive emotions in promoting pro-environmental intentions and suggest that positive emotions can drive climate actions. While negative emotions like fear, sadness and anger were correlated with intentions, they did not predict behaviours in path analysis. This research underscores the potential of using emotionally engaging future visions to foster sustainable behaviours.