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New study by Leuphana and the University of Bern: Extreme weather alone does not change climate behaviour

2026-11-09 A joint study by the University of Bern and Leuphana University of Lüneburg shows that whether people act in a more climate-friendly manner after extreme weather events depends crucially on how they perceive and interpret these events. It also shows that political identity plays a central role. The study has now been published in the journal „Nature Climate Change“.

New study by Leuphana and the University of Bern: Extreme weather alone does not change climate behaviour ©Leuphana/Tengo Tabatadze
“How people perceive extreme weather events and whether they attribute them to climate change is crucial. At the same time, political affiliation shapes people’s awareness and behaviour – regardless of how directly they are affected”, explains Prof. Dr Ulf Hahnel.

Heatwaves, wildfires, floods and droughts have dominated the headlines this summer. Extreme weather events are no longer the exception but part of everyday reality for many people; climate researchers agree that they will become more frequent as a result of climate change. But is experiencing extreme weather events in itself enough to prompt people to adopt a more climate-friendly lifestyle?

A study by researchers from the University of Bern and Leuphana University of Lüneburg, recently published in the journal „Nature Climate Change“, shows that extreme weather events do not automatically lead to a stronger commitment to climate-friendly behavior. Rather, what matters is how people subjectively perceive these events.

In the study, nearly 1,500 participants from the USA repeatedly chose between two options: one offered a higher monetary payoff but resulted in higher CO₂ emissions, while the other offered less money but was associated with lower CO₂ emissions. The information about the monetary payoff and the CO₂ emissions was initially hidden behind boxes. Participants could reveal this information by hovering their computer mouse over the fields. The mouse-tracking method showed which information participants looked at before making their decisions and how strongly they considered the financial and environmental consequences of their choices. This enabled the researchers to determine which information was particularly relevant to participants’ decision-making.

“Our findings show that experiences alone are not enough to change attitudes or behavior,” says first author Annika Wyss from the University of Bern. Daria Knoch from the University of Bern adds: “It is not the occurrence of extreme weather events that matters, but the meaning people attach to them. Anyone seeking to promote sustainable environmental behavior should take these mechanisms into account.” 

“The results also reveal clear differences between the political camps,” adds Ulf Hahnel from Leuphana University of Lüneburg, “People affiliated with the Democratic Party paid more attention to information about CO₂ emissions and made climate-friendly decisions more often than Republicans. However, the mere experience of extreme weather events did not widen these differences.”