Climate decision making: influence of prevailing social norms and probability of climate change

Introduction The global rise in climatic calamities necessitates effective strategies for understanding and addressing Earth’s climate complexities. Although recent research underscores simulation tools’ effectiveness in elucidating complex concepts related to Earth’s climate, partner influence on climatic decisions within simulation studies has been overlooked. Methods Employing the Partner Interactive Climate Change Simulator (P-ICCS), we examined 180 participants across varied conditions. The study manipulated partner nature (optimal, irrational, or none) and climate change probability (high or low) to observe effects on participants’ responses (mitigation or adaptation) within P-ICCS. Results Results revealed a significant impact of partner presence, with the optimal partner notably enhancing monetary investments against climate change compared to the irrational partner. Intriguingly, climate change probability did not sway participants’ investment behavior. Discussion The findings emphasize the pivotal role of partner influence in climate decision-making, offering insights for effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.