Efficacy Study on ‘Warming Labels’ at Boston College

Research Brief on Gas Pump Public Health and Climate Change Warning Labels 

Dr. Stylianos Syropoulos, Dr. Gregg Sparkman & PhD student researcher Fazli Salim - Boston College

Executive Summary

Preliminary findings surveying American drivers of gas and diesel personal vehicles finds that climate and health warning labels added to gas pumps can lead drivers to change their beliefs about their driving habits in ways that could help address climate change and improve local air quality. Specifically, when asked to imagine seeing these warning labels on gas pumps in one’s community, drivers were more likely to acknowledge their use of fossil fuels was harmful, feel responsible for changing their behavior, expect others in their community would want to transition away from gas and diesel cars, and feel personally obligated to “do their part” to help out in the broader societal transition away from fossil fuels.

Preliminary Results from Study on American Drivers

Compared to standard flammable warning labels, preliminary findings from ongoing research find that exposure to climate warning labels (like the one shown) can increase:

• Belief personal use of gas/diesel harms the health of those locally, and harms the environment via climate change

• Feeling personally responsible to change one’s behavior to avoid harms caused by driving gas/diesel vehicles

• Belief personal action is needed for the transition away from fossil fuels to succeed

• Belief the responsibility for harms and transitioning away from fossil fuels is shared by oneself, others in their community, corporations, and government

• Belief one’s community disapproves of fossil fuels / think they are harmful

• Belief one’s community thinks people ought to transition away from fossil fuels

Methodology

More than 3,600 Americans who drive gas or diesel vehicles completed an online survey where they were asked to imagine seeing a warning label at their local gas station. Which label they saw was randomized: some saw a business-as-usual “flammable” label, while others saw a climate/health label. They were then asked about their beliefs about using a gas/diesel vehicle had they seen that label.