Do climate emotions matter? Investigating their role in pro-environmental behavior

Climate emotions are widespread affective responses to the progressing climate crisis. While mainly positive associations between pro-environmental behavior and selected emotions, such as climate anxiety or climate anger, have been observed, research following a multidimensional understanding of climate emotions is scarce. To better understand the psychological predictors of pro-environmental behaviors, we examined eight climate emotions (1) as unique predictors and (2) in combination with other predictors of the Social Identity Model of Pro-Environmental Action (SIMPEA). We recruited a German sample representative in terms of age, gender, and federal state using an online survey (N = 966) to investigate the role of our predictors for collective climate action, social influence behavior, and diet-related CO 2 emissions. Regression analyses revealed climate isolation, guilt, and enthusiasm as positive predictors and climate powerlessness as a negative predictor of collective climate action and social influence behavior. Social identity and social norms emerged as further positive predictors. Meanwhile, climate anger, climate sorrow, and social norms predicted less diet-related CO 2 emissions, while climate guilt and powerlessness showed positive associations. Results for climate contempt indicate validity issues with this subscale. Climate anxiety did not predict any of the outcomes when other predictors were considered. Climate emotions outperforming established SIMPEA predictors suggest giving them a prominent role within theoretical frameworks on pro-environmental behavior as proximal predictors. Specific emotions such as climate isolation and enthusiasm are currently overlooked and should be given more attention in future research.