Emotions Linked to Climate Policy Support, Study Finds

Fear boosts backing for climate action, while dread reduces it, researchers say.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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New research has found that people are more likely to support policies aimed at tackling climate change when they feel fearful, but feelings of dread make them less likely to back such policies. The study, led by a team from Anglia Ruskin University, involved 418 UK participants and measured their emotions, belief in climate change, and support for various climate policies.

Why it matters

This is the first study to investigate how incidental emotions, not directly related to climate change, can influence people's views on climate policy. The findings suggest that strategies to build public support for climate action may benefit from evoking manageable levels of fear, as opposed to the more overwhelming emotion of dread, which can leave people feeling powerless.

The details

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, found that feeling fearful was associated with greater support for climate policies like increasing taxes on airlines, investing in green jobs, and raising taxes on fossil fuels. In contrast, feeling dread, an intense and overwhelming form of fear, was linked to less support for these policies. The researchers suggest dread may leave individuals feeling powerless and less likely to believe policies will be effective. The study also found that belief in climate change was already high among participants, but women reported stronger climate change belief and greater support for climate policies than men.

  • The study was published on February 13, 2026.

The players

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

A public university located in Cambridge, England, where the research was conducted.

Dr. Sarah Gradidge

The lead author of the study and a Lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.

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What they’re saying

“Much of the research so far has looked at emotional reactions to climate change itself, such as eco‑anxiety. Our study is the first to look at whether the everyday emotions people are feeling, whether they're thinking about climate change or not, influence people's belief in climate change and their willingness to support policies designed to address it.”

— Dr. Sarah Gradidge, Lead Author and Lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (Mirage News)

“Despite being the most similar of the 10 emotions we tested, our results show a clear and important difference between fear and dread. Feeling fearful appears to motivate people and is linked with greater support for climate policies. However, dread, which can be thought of as a more intense, overwhelming form of fear, is associated with lower support for climate policies.”

— Dr. Sarah Gradidge, Lead Author and Lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (Mirage News)

“Our findings suggest that any strategies aimed at building public support for climate policies may benefit from evoking manageable levels of fear, to encourage people to engage and support solutions. Going too far may leave people feeling powerless and therefore less inclined to back the policies being proposed.”

— Dr. Sarah Gradidge, Lead Author and Lecturer in Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (Mirage News)

The takeaway

This study highlights the important role that emotions, even those not directly related to climate change, can play in shaping public support for climate policies. By understanding how different emotional states influence climate policy attitudes, policymakers and advocates may be able to craft more effective strategies to build broad-based support for climate action.