The Hill: How to overcome cognitive biases against climate action

By Howard Kunreuther and Robert Meye The Biden administration has clearly indicated that climate change is a critically important issue on its agenda. Given the polarization of the country, a challenge that has not been adequately addressed is convincing property owners with varying political views to undertake measures, such as investing in solar panels, that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite a general recognition by most Americans that we need to pay attention to climate change, this concern has not led to action to address the problem. Cognitive biases, such as myopia, inertia and herding, cause consumers to avoid investing in long-term measures. We can successfully address these biases with strategies that work with, rather than against, how people naturally make decisions, in concert with short-term economic incentives that meet households’ immediate needs. Read more at The Hill.