The cost of climate action: experimental evidence on the impact of climate information on charitable donations to climate activism

Abstract We examine willingness to donate to climate activism and test whether brief informational infographics affect donations and climate attitudes. Participants completed baseline measures of climate literacy and attitudes before random assignment in a 2 × 2 design with (i) varying information about a climate activism organization and (ii) protest versus neutral imagery. They then made an incentive-compatible allocation of up to $30 between themselves and the organization and completed a post-treatment survey. Donations were high overall, with many full-endowment donations. Organizational information reduced donations, while protest imagery attenuated this effect and increased climate concern, which was positively associated with giving.