A climate policy referendum decreases pluralistic ignorance on climate change concern

Pluralistic ignorance about others’ climate change concern can contribute to inaction on climate change. We conducted a two-wave panel study (Npre = 1,578, Npost = 827) with a general sample before and after the national Swiss referendum on the Climate Protection Law, which was accepted. We find that people underestimate others’ concern about climate change and others’ support of scientists’ policy advocacy. Pluralistic ignorance of climate change concern slightly decreased after the referendum, while pluralistic ignorance of scientists’ advocacy remained unchanged. Results thus show that national voting on climate policy creates a window of opportunity that can be harnessed to reduce pluralistic ignorance.