Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
2-2023
Abstract
Virtual simulations of future extreme weather events may prove an effective vehicle for climate change risk communication. To test this, we created a 3D virtual simulation of a future tropical cyclone amplified by climate change. Using an experimental framework, we isolated the effect of our simulation on risk perceptions and individual mitigation behaviour for a representative sample (n = 1507) of the general public in Hong Kong. We find that exposure to our simulation is systematically associated with a relatively small decrease in risk perceptions and individual mitigation behaviour. We suggest that this is likely due to climate change scepticism, motivation crowding, geographical and temporal distance, high-risk thresholds, feelings of hopelessness, and concerns surrounding the immersiveness of the virtual simulation.
Discipline
Environmental Sciences | Physical and Environmental Geography
Publication
PLOS Climate
Volume
2
Issue
2
First Page
1
Last Page
13
Identifier
10.1371/journal.pclm.0000112
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Citation
GEVELT, Terry Van; MCADOO, Brian G.; YANG, Jie; LI, Linlin; WILLIAMSON, Fiona; SCOLLAY, Alex; LAM, Aileen; CHAN, Kwan Nok; and SWITZER, Adam D..
Using virtual simulations of future extreme weather events to communicate climate change risk. (2023). PLOS Climate. 2, (2), 1-13.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cis_research/151
Copyright Owner and License
Authors-CC-BY
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000112