# Most consider climate change issues important and urgent

By [ChurchillSteven](https://paragraph.com/@churchillsteven) · 2023-05-12

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Government agencies and non-governmental organizations often assume that there is no incentive to act in response to climate change, as climate change is often considered a remote issue. This concept of psychological distance seems to be popular, but researchers in the Netherlands have found that, in practice, most people consider climate change to be an important and urgent issue, even if its impact is not immediately apparent. Relevant research has recently been published in One Earth.

Anne M. van Valkengoed of the University of Groningen and his colleagues gathered a number of public opinion surveys that analysed perceptions of climate change, some of which included more than 100,000 people in 121 countries. The poll revealed that more than 50 per cent of participants believed that climate change was taking place and that it would affect their region in the near future.

“there is no consistent evidence that the remote psychological distance from climate change can hinder climate action.” Van Valkengoed said.

The Panel also analysed several findings aimed at testing the relationship between psychological distance and climate action. Of the 26 studies, only 9 found a positive correlation between psychological distance and climate action. Indeed, a number of studies have shown that treating climate change as a remote effect would lead to more action. The study also found that 25 of the 30 studies had failed to demonstrate that experimental reductions in psychological distances would increase action to combat climate change.

Researchers believe that a general misinterpretation of the relationship between psychological distance and climate action may in fact hinder progress in mitigating climate change. (Fifwive)

Information on relevant papers:

[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.03.006](http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.03.006)

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*Originally published on [ChurchillSteven](https://paragraph.com/@churchillsteven/most-consider-climate-change-issues-important-and-urgent)*