The influence of familial nudging on attitudes toward climate change and monetary contributions: An exploration of ease and difficulty with evidence from Japan, Canada, the USA, and Norway
Publication Date
2025
Description
Climate change countermeasures require monetary investment for implementation through regulations, often in the form of public taxes. Therefore, public opinion on climate change is an important factor in achieving carbon neutrality (CN). How public perception is formed, leading to motivation to fund measures for CN, needs to be identified. This study aimed to identify the causal structures of attitude change leading to financial investment through two surveys in multiple countries using nudging messages emphasizing familial support (familial nudging), which is effective in promoting pro-environmental attitudes. Study 1 (2023) examined how familial nudging moderates risk-averse attitudes toward climate change. Despite successful overall nudging effects, no increase in willingness to pay for CN was observed. Causality analysis showed that willingness to pay for CN was influenced by perceived risks to oneself and future generations. Based on these findings, Study 2 (2024) introduced modified familial nudging, emphasizing milder climate risks for the current generation, but more severe climate risks for future generations, such as wildfires. The new nudging message unexpectedly increased the perceived risks to the current generation, and no positive impact on willingness to pay was observed. The exception was Canada, as respondents showed non-negative responses and significant increases compared to the other messages. The Canadian wildfire in 2023 may have influenced the perceived necessity of CN countermeasures. These findings highlight the challenge of nudging perceived impacts on current and future generations, separately simultaneously. Meanwhile, recent natural disasters may effectively moderate the decreased financial motivation for CN, regardless of familial support.
Journal
Sustainable Futures
Volume
10
Recommended Citation
Komatsu, Hidenori; Kubota, Hiromi; Asano, Kenji Asano; Naga, Yu; Salmon, Catherine; Widman, David; Oberzaucher, Elisabeth; Wade, T. Joel; Edward Ottesen Kennair, Leif; Fisher, Maryanne L.; Burch, Rebecca; Takikawa, Ryoko; and Rice, Samara. "The influence of familial nudging on attitudes toward climate change and monetary contributions: An exploration of ease and difficulty with evidence from Japan, Canada, the USA, and Norway." (2025) .