---
_id: '58473'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: Using a large unique longitudinal survey data set from Germany covering more
    than 5,000 households, we analyze stated intentions and actual implementations
    of both flood-proofing and heat stress reduction measures to assess the intention
    behavior gap (IBG) in climate change adaptation. Our results do not only reveal
    a substantial IBG for most stated intentions, but also show their limits in serving
    as a good predictor for realized actions later. Moreover, the IBG itself can hardly
    be explained by observable household data characteristics. While we do find some
    similarities in explanatory variables affecting both intentions and implementations,
    these variables provide only little insights into the actual levels of implemented
    actions. In line with regret theory, the IBG in our data can be partly explained
    by anticipated regret caused by a feeling of having invested in vain in cases
    where adaptation measures are installed, but extreme weather events do not occur
    for the time being. Our results are informative for adaptation-related communication
    campaigns and public policy interventions, especially in the aftermath of natural
    disasters.
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Daniel
  full_name: Osberghaus, Daniel
  last_name: Osberghaus
- first_name: Wouter
  full_name: Botzen, Wouter
  last_name: Botzen
- first_name: Martin
  full_name: Kesternich, Martin
  id: '98922'
  last_name: Kesternich
  orcid: 0000-0002-0653-7680
citation:
  ama: 'Osberghaus D, Botzen W, Kesternich M. The intention-behavior gap in climate
    change adaptation: Evidence from longitudinal survey data. <i>Ecological Economics
    </i>. Published online 2025.'
  apa: 'Osberghaus, D., Botzen, W., &#38; Kesternich, M. (2025). The intention-behavior
    gap in climate change adaptation: Evidence from longitudinal survey data. <i>Ecological
    Economics </i>.'
  bibtex: '@article{Osberghaus_Botzen_Kesternich_2025, title={The intention-behavior
    gap in climate change adaptation: Evidence from longitudinal survey data}, journal={Ecological
    Economics }, author={Osberghaus, Daniel and Botzen, Wouter and Kesternich, Martin},
    year={2025} }'
  chicago: 'Osberghaus, Daniel, Wouter Botzen, and Martin Kesternich. “The Intention-Behavior
    Gap in Climate Change Adaptation: Evidence from Longitudinal Survey Data.” <i>Ecological
    Economics </i>, 2025.'
  ieee: 'D. Osberghaus, W. Botzen, and M. Kesternich, “The intention-behavior gap
    in climate change adaptation: Evidence from longitudinal survey data,” <i>Ecological
    Economics </i>, 2025.'
  mla: 'Osberghaus, Daniel, et al. “The Intention-Behavior Gap in Climate Change Adaptation:
    Evidence from Longitudinal Survey Data.” <i>Ecological Economics </i>, 2025.'
  short: D. Osberghaus, W. Botzen, M. Kesternich, Ecological Economics  (2025).
date_created: 2025-01-31T14:20:46Z
date_updated: 2025-02-03T12:04:07Z
keyword:
- Intention-behavior gap
- Adaptation
- Climate Change
- Flooding
- Heat
language:
- iso: eng
publication: 'Ecological Economics '
status: public
title: 'The intention-behavior gap in climate change adaptation: Evidence from longitudinal
  survey data'
type: journal_article
user_id: '98922'
year: '2025'
...