Perceptions of the role of different societal actors in addressing climate change
Whose job is it to solve climate change? Various actors can and should act to tackle climate change. What one actor does—or fails to do—affects how easy, appealing, and impactful it is for others to take climate action. Yet uncertainty and debate about who should and can act, and who is motivated, likely, or currently taking action, may hinder society-wide climate progress. This thesis studies how different actors perceive their own and others' roles in addressing climate change.
We find broad agreement that various actors (e.g., governments, businesses, the financial sector, NGOs, the media, and citizens) are responsible for and capable of taking climate action, but most of these actors are not seen as strongly motivated or likely to act. Governments and businesses are viewed as especially responsible and capable of acting. Interestingly, professionals working in governments and businesses see themselves as less responsible and capable of acting compared to how citizens see themselves. Citizens and professionals are more motivated and likely to take climate action the more they feel responsible and capable of doing so. Perceived capacity is especially important for professionals to engage in climate action at work. People take more climate actions the more they believe governments and businesses are acting, because this strengthens their confidence that together our society can limit climate change.