Do protests influence environmental attitudes? Evidence from Extinction Rebellion
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Kountouris, Yiannis
Williams, Eleri
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Protests are frequently used to raise public awareness of environmental challenges and increase support for pro-environmental behavior and policy. In this paper we examine the influence of protests on environmental attitudes, focusing on Extinction Rebellion's April 2019 campaign of civil disobedience in the UK. Using individual-level survey data collected around the time of the protest, we exploit its exogeneity to the timing of survey response, to compare attitudes towards sustainable lifestyles, perceptions of own environmental impact, support for pro-environmental policy and behavior, and views about the severity and imminence of environmental crises, before and after the protest. There is evidence that the protest is related to lower probability of opposing pro-environmental behavior and policy, and lower willingness to pay a premium for environmentally friendly consumption. We do not find evidence that the protest alienated the public from sustainable lifestyles, influenced perceptions of personal environmental impact, or views about the imminence and severity of environmental crises. Results suggest the need for systematic study of the impact of environmental protests on the general public's environmental attitudes and behaviors.
Date Issued
2023-01-01
Date Acceptance
2022-10-17
Citation
Environmental Research Communications, 2023, 5 (1)
ISSN
2515-7620
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
Environmental Research Communications
Volume
5
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000918411100001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
ACTIVISM
BEHAVIOR
environmental activism
environmental movements
environmental protest
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
MOVEMENTS
PATTERNS
POLICY
PRIVATE POLITICS
pro-environmental attitudes
Science & Technology
STATES
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
011003
Date Publish Online
2023-01-25