Connie Roser?Renouf|Edward Maibach|Anthony Leiserowitz|Xiaoquan Zhao
The genesis of climate change activism: from key beliefs to political action
George Mason University|George Mason University|Yale University|George Mason University
climate change activism uncommon us growing national movement pressing political response assess cognitive affective precursors climate activism hypothesize test twostage informationprocessing model based social cognitive theory stage 1 expectations climate change outcomes perceived collective efficacy mitigate threat hypothesized influence affective issue involvement support societal mitigation action stage 2 beliefs effectiveness political activism perceived barriers activist behaviors opinion leadership hypothesized influence intended actual activism test hypotheses fit structural equation model using nationally representative data model explains 52 percent variance latent variable representing three forms climate change activism contacting elected representatives supporting organizations working issue attending climate change rallies meetings results suggest efforts increase citizen activism promote specific beliefs climate change build perceptions political activism effective encourage interpersonal communication issue