Climate Change Views, Energy Policy Support, and Personal Action in the Intermountain West: The Anti-Reflexivity Effect

Abstract

Reducing the environmental impacts of energy production and consumption is part of addressing climate change. Prior research finds political-economic factors shape climate change views, perceptions of and policy support for renewable and nonrenewable energy, and pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs). This study contributes to research in these three areas by empirically testing the anti-reflexivity thesis, which posits that forces defending the industrial capitalist system are sources of anti-reflexivity, obstructing critical self-evaluation and societal action to address climate change. Using OLS and logistic regression analysis of survey data from respondents in five states in the US Intermountain West region, we find empirical support for the effect of anti-reflexivity on climate views, energy policy support, and PEBs. We also find that PEBs in the Intermountain West still largely occur in the realm of personal conservation actions rather than being politically focused, collectively organized, or leading toward systemic change.

Keywords:

• Anti-reflexivity
• climate change
• denial
• energy
• fossil fuels
• PEB
• policy
• renewable
• views
• United States

Acknowledgements

This research is based on survey data provided by the second and fourth authors, and we thank them for the opportunity for collaboration. The dissertation of the second author is available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/5860/. We also thank the editor and three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Project # UTA01219 and Project # UTA01369.