When dealing with climate change, focusing too much on private solutions instead of public action can create serious problems. Private measures—such as building local flood defences or protecting specific communities—may help in the short term, but they do not reduce the overall level of greenhouse gas emissions. When governments prioritise these private approaches over wider public efforts, global progress slows down. This can make climate change worse for everyone, especially for poorer countries and vulnerable populations who have fewer resources to protect themselves.

This situation is often described as the “private solution trap.” It happens when wealthier countries concentrate on protecting their own citizens instead of contributing enough to global solutions. While this may seem sensible from a national perspective, it can actually increase inequality and leave others at greater risk. In the end, this approach weakens the collective effort needed to address climate change effectively on a global scale.

An international study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences explored this issue in detail. Researchers, including those from the University of Bologna, conducted an experiment involving more than 7,500 participants from 34 different countries. The goal was to understand how people decide to use their resources when faced with the challenge of climate change.

In the study, participants were placed into small groups and asked to decide how to allocate their resources. They could choose between investing in a public solution, such as reducing emissions, or a private solution that only protects their own situation. Some participants were given more resources, representing wealthier countries, while others had fewer resources, representing poorer nations. The results showed a clear pattern: those with more resources were much more likely to invest in private solutions and less likely to support shared public efforts.

This behaviour reflects a broader issue in real life. Societies often rely on public systems—like healthcare, education, and transport—to address common challenges. However, private alternatives also exist, such as private insurance or private schools. In the context of climate change, both public and private actions are important. The key challenge is finding the right balance. If too many resources are directed towards private protection, the global problem remains unsolved.

The study also found that cultural values can influence decisions. People from countries that emphasise fairness and community were more likely to support public solutions, while those from more hierarchical societies tended to prefer private approaches. However, over time, most groups still fell into the same trap. One encouraging finding was that groups that acted quickly and worked together on public solutions were more successful overall. This suggests that coordinated global efforts—such as cooperation between countries or shared investment strategies—are essential for tackling climate change effectively.

More information: Eugene Malthouse et al, The private solution trap in collective action problems across 34 nations, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2504632123

Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Provided by Università di Bologna