The psychology of climate delay: investigating the discourses of climate delay and their influence on pro-environmental behavior

Abstract Non-technical summary Efforts to tackle climate change are increasingly delayed not through denial but through subtler arguments that emphasize costs, shift blame, or promote weak solutions. We created a tool to measure how much individuals agree with these ‘climate delay’ narratives. Across two studies conducted in Germany, we found that people who endorse these views are less likely to support climate-friendly behaviors or policies. Understanding and countering these arguments could help build public support for stronger climate action. Technical summary Opponents of climate action have shifted from outright denial of climate change to strategies that delay mitigation efforts. The framework for discourses of climate delay (DOCD) identified 12 distinct discourses, categorizing them into four broader themes: emphasize the downsides, redirect responsibility, surrender, and push for non-transformative solutions. These discourses frequently appear in advertisements, media coverage, and political debates. However, no validated questionnaire exists to measure agreement with these discourses, and little is known about how they are perceived in the general population or how they relate to pro-environmental behavior. Across two studies (n = 403, n = 966) in Germany, we developed a questionnaire to assess agreement with climate delay discourses and examined their associations with pro-environmental behaviors and attitudes (private-sphere behavior, collective climate action, social influence, and policy support). Contrary to the original four-factor framework, confirmatory factor analysis did not support a four-factor structure. Instead, exploratory factor analysis suggested a unidimensional scale consisting of nine items reflecting support of the status quo. Overall, endorsement of climate delay discourses was negatively associated with pro-environmental behaviors, with the strongest relationship observed for policy support. The scale offers a useful tool for identifying and addressing delay-based opposition in climate communication and policy advocacy. Social media summary DOCD undermine climate action – new research shows how to measure their influence.