Individualism and collective responses to climate change

Abstract This article establishes empirically that a persistent culture of “rugged individualism”, captured by exposure to the American westward-moving frontier from 1790 1890, undermines pro-climate perceptions, environmental performance, and climate change preparedness across counties in United States. It also demonstrates individualism is associated with underperformance at state level, making it more difficult mitigate far-reaching consequences changing conditions. To establish external validity subnational evidence, I employ global sample up 97 countries provide suggestive evidence creates barriers responses worldwide.