Does confidence in government stimulate pro-environmental behavior in response to extreme weather?

Abstract As climate change is associated with increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, there is growing attention to collective action and to policy approaches aimed at engaging communities in climate adaptation efforts. Understanding the social mechanisms that drive individuals to support pro-environmental activities is crucial for fostering engagement in climate adaptation initiatives. Using data from the World Value Survey and Emergency Events Database, we explore whether confidence in government-a key dimension of social capital- stimulates pro-environmental behavior when facing extreme weather. Based on a sample of 106,820 observations from 106 countries, our results show that the relationship between extreme weather exposure and pro-environmental behavior is conditional on confidence in government. Specifically, higher confidence in government is associated with a stronger pro-environmental response as the frequency or severity of extreme weather increases, with this pattern being more pronounced among low-income individuals and in low- and middle-income economies. Our results suggest that efforts to strengthen public trust in government can be effective for mobilizing collective action in highly exposed and resource-constrained contexts.