Overcoming the Fear Factor: How to Move Past Perceived Risks and Take Climate Action

Many people in the world believe in climate change but feel psychological barriers stopping them from taking action.[1] I am going to discuss the barrier of ‘perceived risks of change’ to raise awareness of its existence, with the hope you will choose to take action next time instead of stopping at the risks of doing so.  

Firstly, perceived risks are fears of change or potential loss (financial, social, or comfort) that prevent people from adopting more sustainable behaviors. I am going to take the question of buying an electric car to examine the ‘perceived risks’ that people encounter. 

Functional/Financial risk: This risk asks the question; will it work? Will buying an electric vehicle be beneficial? The fact is that electric vehicles are 30 to 40% cheaper to maintain than other fuel types.[2] Over its lifetime, the average new electric vehicle produces about half the greenhouse gas emissions of an equivalent vehicle burning gasoline or diesel.[3] This proves that the functional risk barrier that stops people buying electric cars does not always have sustenance behind it. 

Physical risk: Is an electric vehicle safe? To answer this worry, there are over 100,000 car fires in the UK every year. In 2022-2023, only 239 (0.24%) involved electric vehicles.[4] The fear that the battery will catch fire is irrational when looking at the hard facts. 

Social/Psychological risk: Will I be judged for buying an EV to take climate action? Will I be teased for my new actions? These are common worries preventing hundreds of thousands of people taking climate action as they don’t see their friends doing so and they do not want to be the ‘odd one out.’ In actual fact, your climate actions will have the opposite effect and will urge your friends and family to follow suit. Many of us are just waiting for someone else to make the leap to then do the same, but why can’t that person be you? 

In short, perceived risks are often irrational and only at surface level. Don’t forget, these worries are felt by many around the world but to save our climate, we all need to act. Your step of climate action can have a positive domino effect within your friend group or even your community. Put the perceived risks aside and take action before it’s too late.  

[1] Robert Gifford, The Dragons of Inaction – Psychological Barriers that Limit Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation 

[2] Are Electric Cars worth it? Nick Williams 09/09/2024 < https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/insights/are-electric-cars-worth-it.html>  

[3] Are Electric Vehicles really better for the environment? Earthjustice 17/01/2024 < https://earthjustice.org/article/electric-vehicles-are-better-for-the-environment#:~:text=EVs%20are%20much%20better%20for,vehicle%20burning%20gasoline%20or%20diesel.>  

[4] Are Electric Cars worth it? Nick Williams 09/09/2024 < https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/insights/are-electric-cars-worth-it.html>