Making sense of climate change perceptions in the last two decades. Evidence from 28 European countries

• In Event: 50620 - Section on Environmental Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 11: Environmental Spaces, Places, and Beliefs

Abstract

In 2018, climate change discourse shifted dramatically, framing it as a crisis or emergency in political debates, protests, and news. While some observers feared such rhetoric might harm democratic politics, public perceptions of climate change during this shift remain underexplored. This study analyzes Eurobarometer survey data (2002–2023, 28 countries, N=1,229,479) to examine how risk perceptions and the salience of climate change evolved, focusing on changes around 2018–2019.

Multilevel regression analyses reveal that this discursive shift coincided with marked increases in issue salience and perceived risk, though the latter was less pronounced. These changes varied across countries and were influenced by individual factors such as education, gender, age, political ideology, and trust in media. Additionally, group differences in perceptions widened in some countries during the 2018–2019 peak.

Findings suggest that intensified public discourse around climate change may heighten awareness but also polarize perceptions within and across European Union countries, highlighting challenges for fostering collective action.

Authors

• Richard Nennstiel, University of Bern

• Olivia Steiert, New School For Social Research