Does Climate Change Worry Decrease during Armed Conflicts?

Climate change stands out as an especially pressing global concern. The aim of the present study was to explore whether climate change worry decreases during armed conflicts, using two time-points: before and during an armed conflict. Guided by the Transactional Theory of Stress and Coping (TTSC), we examined the interplay between risk appraisal, pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs), and climate change worry. A sample of 202 Israeli adults participated in two waves of data collection, completing self-report measures addressing climate change worry, risk appraisal, and PEBs. Results revealed a significant decline in climate change worry and risk appraisal during the armed conflict, whereas PEBs remained unchanged. Contrary to expectations, the associations between risk appraisal, PEBs, and climate change worry did not weaken during the conflict. Mediation analyses indicated that the decline in risk appraisal led to a decline in PEBs, which subsequently contributed to a decline in climate change worry. However, this mediation effect was partial, with most of the association remaining direct. These findings imply that the psychological impact of armed conflict may temporarily overshadow environmental concerns, emphasizing the need for strategies to maintain environmental awareness and behavior even during an armed conflict.