Modelling the readiness to act against climate change by integrating individual behaviour and system-level change

Abstract

Behavioural science in the climate change field has mainly focused on understanding and changing individual behaviours. However, effectively addressing the climate crisis requires broadening the focus on systemic change. This paper introduces a novel model that defines readiness to act against climate change by considering individual climate-protection behaviours along with acceptance of climate policies and political participation. The model undergoes rigorous validation by psychometrically evaluating measurement instruments and testing the explanatory power of a comprehensive set of predictors, including perceived health risks, trust in institutions, social norms, perceived efficacy of political measures, self-efficacy, and knowledge. Utilising latent modelling, we separate general variance in the readiness to act from specific variance in individual behaviour, policy acceptance, and political participation; estimate relations that most closely approximate true relations between constructs and illuminate complex behavioural patterns. This approach surpasses individualised perspectives on climate action and includes a behavioural perspective on system-level change