Temporal orientations and climate action over time: A two-wave study of the associations between consideration of consequences and climate action intentions and behaviour

Individual orientations to the present and the future are thought to be important predictors of behaviours that involve temporal dilemmas, such as climate change mitigation. However, past research has only explored these relationships cross-sectionally, with all variables measured at the same time. The present study is the first to test the associations of temporal orientations to subsequent climate action, to determine their effects over time. Using two waves of data with an Australian community sample ( N = 268), we test the associations between consideration of future and immediate consequences and self-reported conventional private-sphere, conventional public-sphere, and radical public-sphere climate action taken over the subsequent one year. Results reveal that higher consideration of future consequences at Time 1 is associated with more self-reported climate action at Time 2 via access to more environmental cognitive alternatives, higher eco-anxiety, and stronger behavioural intentions at Time 1. Higher consideration of immediate consequences is associated with more radical public-sphere action via stronger behavioural intentions and related to conventional private- and public-sphere climate actions via both negative and positive indirect pathways. • Future-oriented thinking predicts more climate action one year later. • Present-oriented thinking has mixed effects on conventional actions over time. • Cognitive alternatives, eco-anxiety, and intentions mediate these relationships.