About the Project
Virtual simulations of future extreme weather events may prove an effective vehicle for climate change risk communication. To test this, we created a 3D virtual simulation of a future tropical cyclone amplified by climate change. Using an experimental framework, we isolated the effect of our simulation on risk perceptions and individual mitigation behaviour for a representative sample (n = 1507) of the general public in Hong Kong. We find that exposure to our simulation is systematically associated with a relatively small decrease in risk perceptions and individual mitigation behaviour. We suggest that this is likely due to climate change scepticism, motivation crowding, geographical and temporal distance, high-risk thresholds, feelings of hopelessness, and concerns surrounding the immersiveness of the virtual simulation.
Related SMU Reporting / podcast
Typhoon Simulations & Climate Action
Communicating Climate Impacts
Related journals/articles
PLOS Climate Article
PlanetLab PDF
Van Gevelt, T., McAdoo, B. G., Yang, J., Li, L., & Williamson, F.
Associated Publications
GEVELT, Terry Van; MCADOO, Brian G.; YANG, Jie; LI, Linlin; WILLIAMSON, Fiona; SCOLLAY, Alex; LAM, Aileen; CHAN, Kwan Nok; and SWITZER, Adam D.. Using virtual simulations of future extreme weather events to communicate climate change risk. (2023). PLOS Climate. 2, (2), 1-13. Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cis_research/151
