Climate sceptics and climate believers : climate change beliefs and intergroup perceptions in a Swedish context

Abstract: The climate change debate in Sweden seems to be settled with most societal stakeholders accepting the climate science tenets and supporting climate action. However, a closer look will reveal that even Sweden hosts a community of sceptics who question the causes, consequences of climate change and the need for expansive mitigation action. Literature reveals that there needs to be more focus on the sceptic phenomenon, in order to understand the broader landscape of the climate debate. To fill this gap, this study investigates the motivations of climate change beliefs as well as intergroup perceptions among two opposing opinion groups: climate change sceptics and climate change believers. The data was collected through interviews with ten respondents, five from each of the two groups. The results reveal various individual and group-based belief factors and align with previous evidence in existing literature. The findings add a comparative element to the data and find several similarities and differences between the thoughts processes between members of the opposite groups. The intergroup perception findings suggest low interaction and understanding between the contesting groups and a need and potential for a more democratic and inclusive deliberative dialogue towards decision-making, rather than forced consensus and alienation of sceptic groups. This study could inform sustainability scientists in their further endeavors to mitigate conflicts within the climate debate, in order to achieve more efficient climate action plans, which would consider various values and interests among the public.