Does Flood Exposure Affect Environmental Behaviours?

Abstract

This paper examines how flood exposure affects environmental behaviour. I rely on precise outlines of all floods in England from 2009 to 2022, and complement these flood incidents with precise flood risk modelling. Using a longitudinal survey on individual-level behaviour and data on observed donations, I show that individuals living in postcodes affected by a flood become more pro-environment in their day-to-day activities, and they also increase their support for the Green Party and environmental charities. The sense of guilt may be the driving force behind their greener behaviours: floods make these individuals view their actions as not environmentally friendly enough. In contrast, individuals are not responsive to floods that affect their close neighbours, even within a narrow range of 200 meters.

Keywords: disaster, floods, climate change, pro-environmental behaviour, green identity, social norm

JEL Classification: Q51, Q54, Q58, D01, Z13