Author Correction: Climate proofing of public procurement: a gap to be filled
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We conducted a survey experiment to examine how respondents’ attitudes toward climate change and renewable energy are affected by six communication approaches using online videos. Three interventions used single message approaches, which focused on facts about climate change science, facts about solar PV technology, or the emotion of blue marble awe (the feeling of awe for the Earth arising from the realization that we live on a fragile planet). Two interventions used dual message approaches, which combined blue marble awe with either climate change science or solar PV technology facts. One intervention used a dual reinforced message approach, which combined blue marble awe, solar PV technology facts, and a message from an astronaut who is an ambassador for renewable energy. Results show that the dual reinforced message approach has the strongest effects on energy and environmental attitudes. Our findings offer important lessons for scientists and educators interested in energy communication.
Machine learning map of climate policy literature reveals disparities between scientific attention, policy density, and emissions
Current climate mitigation policies are not sufficient to meet the Paris temperature target, and ramping up efforts will require rapid learning from the scientific literature on climate policies. This literature is vast and widely dispersed, as well as hard to define and categorise, hampering systematic efforts to learn from it. We use a machine learning pipeline using transformer-based language models to systematically map the relevant scientific literature on climate policies at scale and in real-time. Our “living systematic map” of climate policy research features a set of 84,990 papers, and classifies each of them by policy instrument type, sector, and geography. We explore how the distribution of these papers varies across countries, and compare this to the distribution of emissions and enacted climate policies. Results suggests a potential stark under-representation of industry sector policies, as well as diverging attention between science and policy with respect to economic and regulatory instruments.
Theorising unconventional climate advocates and their relationship to the environmental movement
Environmentalist-identified advocates have contributed to high levels of public support for climate action across countries. However, there remain important holdout constituencies that theory and evidence suggest are less likely to be persuaded by environmentalists, especially constituencies associated with resources and economic production, rural and regional areas, masculine norms, and conservative belief systems and politics. Emerging from these holdout constituencies, though, are some novel advocates for climate action. In this paper we theorise ‘unconventional climate advocates’ as those who combine advocacy for climate action with a social identity that departs from the prototypical environmentalist identity. Using social network analysis we show that unconventional climate advocates in Australia are peripheral to the main environmental movement, that is, the conventional advocates for climate action. We contend that unconventional advocates can broaden the social base of support for climate action, and their independence from conventional advocates – environmentalists – may aid in their efforts.
Filling the climate finance gap: holistic approaches to mobilise private finance in developing economies
Transitioning to a low-carbon economy requires over $8.4 trillion annually for the rest of this decade, but current efforts are insufficient, especially in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). Using a theoretical model of the climate finance gap, we identify key factors needed to close this gap and examine how adjustments in carbon pricing could effectively mobilise the required investment. Our findings highlight the importance of strengthening two core elements: (1) Reframing ‘international carbon markets’ to focus on supporting comprehensive, equitable transitions in EMDEs and fostering large-scale systemic cooperation, and delivering real mitigation impacts. (2) Implementing holistic transition plans and cohesive packages of public, private, and market support to create economic, social, and political environments that enable credible and effective policy implementation, while providing the critical technology and skilled labour needed to make private financial flows more responsive to carbon price signals.
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