Political leaders who “walk the talk” on climate action by cutting back on flights and eating less meat are a “critical missing link” in the fight against global warming, according to a study. There is a possibility that it will happen.
Researchers found that people were significantly more motivated to reduce their own carbon footprint when they saw their leaders doing the same. This finding by British psychologists is not surprising, as environmentally friendly behavior by prominent people is sometimes dismissed as a sign of virtue.
The study also found that people are significantly less motivated to change their behavior when leaders don’t set an example. Former chancellor Rishi Sunak flew helicopters and small jets around the UK 40 times during his time in office, according to a Freedom of Information request from the Guardian.
This finding is important because many experts say encouraging and enabling behavioral change in people is essential to tackling global warming. However, there are surprisingly few examples of politicians taking the initiative and setting an example.
Graph showing answers to questions about famous people who lead by example
Research from the UK Climate Change Committee estimates that 60% of the emissions cuts still needed involve behavior change, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is increasingly recognizing this need. Until now, politicians have focused only on similarly needed institutional changes, such as the introduction of renewable energy and international agreements.
A second study suggests why politicians may be reluctant to publicize their personal environmental commitments. Even MPs who strongly support climate action fear being labeled fanatics and hypocrites if other aspects of their lives remain high-carbon.
Initial research suggests that a win-win situation may arise, as it shows that people’s overall support for political leaders who lead by example increases. The key, researchers say, is for leaders to remain consistent over time and avoid green stunts, as well as making some changes, such as using public transport, buying electric cars, and installing electric cars. The key is to recognize that some strategies may be too difficult or expensive for everyone to implement. heat pump.
Dr Steve Westlake from Cardiff University, who led both studies, said: “[Leading by example]is the missing link because climate change is being politicized in a technocratic, top-down way. In other words, new technologies and changes in the energy supply system.” “These solutions avoid impacting people’s daily lives.”
“Going forward, progress will really require changing people’s behavior, but that has been avoided by politicians. We don’t like being told what to do,” he said. . “But by taking personal action, we can bridge the gap between individuals and systems. When we see leaders saying, ‘I am doing this,’ we are I’m coming back to my life.” Westlake said politicians are reluctant to ask people to change their behavior, and people are reluctant to change unless politicians show them the way. said it exists.
He said failure by politicians to lead by example could lead to people feeling like global warming is not a crisis, despite clear scientific evidence. “The urgency of their words[on climate]doesn’t seem to match the signals they send through their actions. I think many leaders are still sending signals that emergency action is not needed.”
A study on leading by example, published in the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communication, told about 1,300 people about political leaders who supported technological and international climate action and said behavior change was also needed. In some groups, leaders said they had made the change, while in other groups, leaders said they had not yet made the change. Leaders did not directly call on people to change their behavior.
“We find that leading by example sends a very strong signal,” Westlake said. “We found that when people see their leaders adopting low-carbon behaviors, they are more willing to adopt low-carbon behaviors and vice versa. There is also a very strong response in terms of perceptions of leaders. ” People who lead by example were seen as more competent, competent, and caring.
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The study also found that having some groups report on celebrities rather than political leaders, and leading by example, had a similarly strong effect.
Westlake said that unlike negative examples, no example of a prominent politician setting an example has yet occurred. “What comes to mind is that Boris Johnson flew home from the Cop26 climate change conference in Glasgow in 2021 rather than by train. “That’s a very powerful message,” he said.
The second study, published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science, is based on interviews with 19 members of Congress. It found that people who are personally involved in environmental protection “tend to act quietly for fear of negative reactions from the media, political opponents, and voters.” Former Prime Minister David Cameron’s journey from “husky-hugging” in the North Pole to “reaping green waste” was frequently cited by MPs as illustrating the risks of inconsistency.
Dr. Maya Singer-Hobb of the public policy research think tank said: “Why should we change our behavior when politicians are on private jets?”
“Politicians are strongly urged to lead by example, not only as a means of shifting norms around behavioral change, but also from an equity perspective, as politicians may have higher emissions than most people. Because it’s highly sexual,” she said.
“This research also suggests that fears of appearing ‘too virtuous’ are likely exaggerated, and once again reassures politicians that they can personally take action.” The democratic imperative to fight climate change is high, and politicians will be better able to maintain public support for environmental policies if they demonstrate that they will share responsibility for action fairly.”
