A multilevel analysis of the perception and behavior of Europeans regarding climate change

Highlights

• Climate change perception is strongly shaped by socioeconomic conditions (SDGs 1 to 5 and SDG 8).

• Environmental conditions (SDGs 6, 7, 9 and SDGs 12 to 15) are more related to individual's behavior.

• SDGs are essential in predicting perception and individual's behavior.

• The greater the individual life satisfaction, the greater their perception and behavior.

• Individuals with a pro-scientific attitude are more willing to act in favor of climate policies.

Abstract

Individual and macro conditions shape interacting factors such as behavior and perception regarding climate change, but there is little consensus on the topic. This article shows that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are macro-level conditions indispensable for generating the perception and behavior of individuals to climate change issues. Moreover, as individual factors, we understand that life satisfaction, attitudes and levels of engagement with scientific knowledge as complements are also decisive in the proposed model. We used multilevel logistic and linear regression models to analyze individual perception and behavior levels, respectively, in 37 European countries. The results show that SDGs indicators most related to perception are those addressing social and economic development, while the goals dealing directly with preservation and relations with the environment are more clearly seen as predictors of individual behavior. Social barriers, such as poverty, high mortality rates, decreasing life expectancy, and unemployment, are obstacles to increasing individuals' perceptions, as these social problems of basic needs override environmental and climate concerns. On the other hand, individuals who are more satisfied with their lives and who engage in and present a pro-science attitude are more willing to notice and act in favor of climate change policies. We conclude that all nations should systematically seek effective actions against global climate change, and the success of convincing and engaging all communities depends on meeting the SDGs uniformly.