# Linking disaster causes to climate change does not drive willingness to donate, suggests survey

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/05/17/linking-disaster-causes-to-climate-change-does-not-drive-willingness-to-donate-suggests-survey/
- Published: 2024-05-17T09:38:06+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**While levels of climate anxiety are significant, presenting disaster causes as
linked to climate change can reduce people’s motivation to donate, a survey suggests.**

The research into the psychology of giving to disaster relief surveyed over 1,000
participants, and conducted by [GlobalGiving UK ](https://www.globalgiving.org/)
and Professor Hanna Zagefka, Professor of Psychology at Royal Holloway University
Psychology Department. 

It found that while 18% of respondents across all age groups are concerned to some
degree about climate change, this rises to over 1 in four for the under 30s. Across
all age groups, 12% agreed strongly that climate change not only concerns them, 
but makes it difficult for them to concentrate or that they experience nightmares
about climate change.

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90% of those classed as having high climate anxiety are motivated to donate to people
affected by climate change related events, compared with 58% of those in the low
climate anxiety group. Women of all ages and young people between 18-29 were significantly
more likely to be experiencing climate anxiety, as well as being more inclined to
donate to such causes. 

However, while demonstrating the connection between climate anxiety and a desire
to donate, when assessing the effect of climate change beliefs on giving decisions,
the data suggests that emphasising the link between the climate crisis and a disaster
reduces motivation to donate to a cause.

Commenting, Prof. Zagefka said:

> “The results clearly indicate that messages designed to increase donations must
> be carefully tested for unintended consequences. It is possible that us emphasising
> climate change in this study dampened donations because this made participants
> feel overall more threatened and worried, and people who feel threatened might
> have a tendency to ‘bunker down’ rather than to reach out to others.”

GlobalGiving also looked at perceived levels of responsibility to donate following
a disaster, to understand views on the role of businesses in supporting disaster
relief causes of all kinds. This varied with age, with 73% of those aged 18-29 believing
companies have a responsibility to donate to disaster relief, compared to 40% of
over 50s. It also found that young people view responsibility as shared by citizens
as well as governments, and a positive correlation between perceptions of government,
business responsibility and a personal motivation to donate. 

Alex Ritchie, CEO of GlobalGiving UK, said:

> “Our findings show that as the frequency of disaster events increases as a result
> of climate change and other threats, businesses should be sensitive to employees’
> concerns and expectations, and charities to the potential for complex psychological
> responses to disaster events.
>  
> “However, we do know that being able to donate rapidly following disasters can
> help address feelings of powerlessness.”

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 * **['Water' Lot of Wasted Water says World Vision](https://fundraising.co.uk/2003/08/06/039water039-lot-wasted-water-says-world-vision/)**(
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