Economic inequality is linked to citizens viewing individuals as more responsible for climate change mitigation than governments

As global support for climate action grows, the debate has shifted to who bears primary responsibility for climate change mitigation: individuals or systemic actors like governments. The present study (N = 76,320) examined the relationship between national economic inequality and citizens' views on who is responsible for climate change mitigation. Across 72 countries, we found that citizens living in nations with greater (vs. lower) levels of economic inequality were more likely to attribute responsibility for climate change mitigation to individual people rather than governments (and businesses). This relationship was independent of GDP per capita, individuals’ belief in climate change, their perceived importance of climate change, and demographic factors. These findings may be explained by economic inequality eroding public trust, leading individuals to lose faith in the ability of governments and other institutions to implement effective systemic change. As such, economic inequality may pose a barrier to systemic climate action.