Weather Effects on Democracy and Public Engagement

Abstract

This panel examines the multifaceted intersection between temperature anomalies, extreme weather events, natural disasters and air quality and various aspects of societal dynamics. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the connections between climate change and societal phenomena, ranging from voting behaviour to long-term social capital formation in the wake of natural disasters. The first paper investigates the impact of election-day air quality on voter turnout in Poland. Focused on the period from 2013 to 2023, the study offers an interesting perspective on the relationship between air pollution and democratic processes in one of the EU's most air-polluted countries. The second paper explores the effects of climate change exposure, particularly temperature anomalies, on voting behaviour, using the 2021 Federal Election in Germany as a case study. By combining individual-level panel survey data with temperature data from weather stations, the research uncovers an association between temperature anomalies and increased support for the Green Party. Moving to a broader European context, the third paper delves into the impact of extreme weather events on public attitudes towards climate change. The study aims to understand how tangible experiences of extreme weather events influence public concern and support for climate change policies. The fourth paper shifts the focus to the aftermath of natural disasters, specifically the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami in South-East Asia, and examines the long-term formation of social capital among Swedish survivors. By analysing individual-level administrative data and survey responses, the research distinguishes between bonding and bridging social capital, providing insights into the dynamics of social relationships following a natural disaster.

Title	Details
Everywhere you vote, you always take the weather with you: The effects of climate change exposure on Green Party voting	View Paper Details
Long-term Social Capital Formation After Natural Disasters	View Paper Details
Choking Democracy? Examining the Impact of Election-Day Air Quality on Turnout in Poland	View Paper Details
The Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Public Climate Change Attitudes Across Europe	View Paper Details