Climate Change Knowledge, Attitudes, Behavioral Intentions, and Adaptation Among Employees of a Global Software Company

Abstract

Empirical evidence has established that the business sector is experiencing the consequences of the climate change phenomenon. The Deloitte Global 2021 Climate Check report revealed that a significant majority of business executives express concern over the adverse effects of climate change. Based on the Paris Agreement, businesses may adopt the agreement's training, education, and public awareness programs to reduce carbon emissions by 2030. This study examines the climate change knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, behavioral intentions, and adaptation among employees of a global software company.

A sample study of 202 participants from Germany, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and Singapore participated in this study. The research design is descriptive–quantitative study, utilizing online survey method to gather data using online questionnaires. Data was collected from October to February 2022. Complete enumeration sampling technique was employed in determining the participants for this study.

The results indicate that the participants had a moderate level of climate change knowledge, demonstrating strong agreements on certain statements. Additionally, the respondents had a neutral stance towards social pressure and expectation from their colleagues and friends for taking climate action. The study also found that the respondents demonstrated a positive attitude towards climate change. They strongly believe that climate is changing and express concern about the implications of global climate change. However, while participants showed a desire to engage in climate- related initiatives, the findings of the study indicated that participants were neutral towards taking actions to climate change.

The findings of the study imply that while the respondents showed a positive attitude towards climate change, their motivation to take climate action was found to be neutral. Therefore, based on the findings, the concept of climate neutrality (Klimaneutralität) refers to an individual's behavioural intention to perform a climate action, but they are neutral to perform climate action. Neutrality could possibly be attributed to the subjective norms and climate change knowledge of the respondents, which have been found to be neutral. In addition, incorporating KAP variables to TRA framework enhances the predictive power of TRA to predict behavioural intentions. Future research in development communication can explore the concept of climate neutrality as a phenomenon and examine how to employ communication interventions and approaches to address climate neutrality.