Scientists who believe that technology will largely resolve the problems caused by the climate crisis are less inclined to participate in civic action on the issue, according to a new study from the London School of Economics.
The report found that these 'techno-optimist' scientists are 23% less likely to sign petitions or take part in protests compared to their peers who are more sceptical of technology as a primary solution. They are also 18% less likely to implement high-impact lifestyle changes, such as reducing air travel or switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet.
Fabian Dablander, the lead author, stated that this belief in technological solutions, termed “techno-optimism”, may lead to an over-reliance on unproven solutions. This could come at the expense of the significant socioeconomic transformations required to address the climate and nature crisis.
The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, surveyed more than 9,000 scientists across 115 countries. It also indicated that techno-optimism was more common among scientists with right-leaning political views and those working in applied and natural sciences.