12 Years Left: How a Climate Change Action Deadline Influences Perceptions and Engagement

Following the release of a 2018 IPCC report, numerous news media announced we have only "12 years" to avoid abrupt, catastrophic climate change. This experiment tested the influence of this climate change "deadline-ism" message in a news article on participant perceptions of and engagement with climate change. A news article presenting the "deadline-ism" message increased perceptions of the threat of climate change and support for government prioritizing climate change, compared to a control condition. It also increased a sense of collective and individual response efficacy in addressing climate change. We also tested the influence of an article refuting the idea of a deadline for action to avoid abrupt climate catastrophe, which increased perceptions of individual and collective response efficacy.