Give Up Flights? Psychological Predictors of Intentions and Policy Support to Reduce Air Travel

Berneiser, Jessica M.; Becker, Annalena C.; Loy, Laura S. · 2022 · Crossref

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.926639

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Summary

This study investigates the psychological determinants influencing individuals' intentions to reduce air travel and their support for policies aimed at curbing aviation emissions. Motivated by the urgent need to limit global warming to 1.5°C and the limited technical potential for decarbonizing aviation, the research addresses the gap in understanding how behavioral change and policy acceptance can be fostered, particularly among frequent flyers in affluent countries. The authors examine specific psychological factors—including attitudes, perceived behavioral control, efficacy beliefs, global identity, and justice concerns—to determine what drives pro-environmental behavior in the mobility sector. The researchers conducted an online survey with a quota sample of 2,530 participants in Germany, a high-income country with robust transport infrastructure. The study design included an experimental manipulation where participants were provided with additional information regarding the climate impact of aviation, global inequalities, intranational inequalities (specifically subsidies), or a control condition. The analysis focused on how these variables predicted intentions to refrain from flying and support for regulative policies, while also testing whether global or national identity moderated the effects of the provided information. The results identified perceived behavioral control (the ability to travel without flying), efficacy beliefs (the conviction that avoiding flights mitigates climate change), and concerns for intergenerational justice as the strongest positive predictors of both intentions to avoid flights and support for related policies. Conversely, a pro-travel attitude served as a significant negative predictor. Notably, the provision of additional information regarding climate impacts, global or intranational inequalities, and subsidies had no significant effect on participants' intentions or policy support. Furthermore, no interaction effects were found between the type of information provided and participants' global or national identities, suggesting that simply highlighting these inequalities does not automatically motivate behavioral change or policy acceptance. The findings imply that raising awareness of inequalities or climate impacts through information campaigns alone is insufficient to reduce air travel. Instead, the study highlights the critical need for structural shifts in the mobility sector that provide attractive and accessible alternatives to flying, thereby strengthening individuals' perceived behavioral control. Additionally, fostering efficacy beliefs and promoting concern for intergenerational justice are identified as key strategies for motivating behavioral change. The research concludes that effective climate mitigation in aviation requires not only technological solutions but also policies that enhance the feasibility of sustainable travel options and appeal to moral concerns regarding future generations.

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