Intersectionalities and Climate Change Concern in Europe: The Privileged ‘Native Male’ Effect

Maike van Damme , Centre d'Estudis Demografics (CED)

I examine climate change concern in 28 European countries and heterogeneity in these perceptions. Awareness and concern of climate change are crucial in combatting anthropogenic climate change. I explore climate change concern by intersection of key variables (gender, age, migrant background, education, and income). To what extent are there gaps or inequalities in climate change concern with respect to these socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics of European citizens? And to what extent are there overarching intersectionalities? Using the I-MAIHDA approach, I assess that native low-educated and low-income men are the least concerned with climate change. They show the least worry and personal responsibility about climate change. On the other extreme I find that migrant, highly educated women are the most concerned with climate change. This is in line with the ‘identity-protection cognition’ and ‘environmental risk denial’ hypotheses and asks for new strategies to raise climate change awareness amongst the general public.

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 Presented in Session P7. Education, Labor Market, and Economic Issues