Behavioural Economics of Climate Change

This book investigates various kinds of climate change mitigation behaviour, which range from a general support of environmental policy to concrete energy-saving activities, in selected countries. Drawing on extensive national and international survey data, the analysis has the following main objectives: to identify potential determinants of individuals’ renewable energy support, and to analyse the impact of experiences with natural disasters on individuals’ choice between economic growth and environmental protection. Moreover, it examines the role of environmental motivations behind direct daily energy-saving behaviour. The empirical results reveal that various types of climate change mitigation behaviour are not only driven by a mixture of environmental and non-environmental/economic motivations but also depend on external circumstances such as natural disasters. Since CO2 emission dynamics stem to some extent from the choices people make every day in their roles as consumers, investors and citizens, the new findings presented are also valuable from a policy perspective.