The role of tailored climate scenario information for the perceived legitimacy of climate policy paths

Abstract

How does personally tailored climate impact information affect the attitudes towards climate policy paths? We developed an interactive online tool to depict the outcomes of downscaled climate models and a personalized vulnerability estimate. A survey (n=1017) representing Finnish public was conducted to find out the level of knowledge, attitudes towards climate policies and psychological distance to climate change among different demographic groups before and after using the tool. Based on the results, tailored information about climate scenarios increases knowledge on climate impacts, but the effect on the perceived legitimacy of climate policy paths depends on demographic group and personal vulnerability. After using the tool, the respondents' confidence in own knowledge increased and the potential of climate policies to alleviate changes in the living environment was perceived as higher. No polarization in attitudes towards climate science and policy was found between respondents with urban and rural domicile. However, age and income level were associated with differences in attitudes and psychological distance to climate impacts. The respondents perceived climate impacts as spatially proximal, while the temporal and social dimensions of distance indicated more variation. For those with low vulnerability level, climate impacts appeared as more distant after obtaining tailored information.