Public perceptions of climate change during the COVID-19 crisis: Evidence from social media data in China.

This article examines how the outbreak of COVID-19 influenced public attitudes toward climate change by analyzing social media posts on Sina Weibo in China during the month before and after the pandemic's emergence. Findings indicate that while the overall frequency and popularity of climate change discussions declined—supporting the "finite pool of worry" thesis that immediate crises can overshadow environmental concerns—the sentiment of posts became more positive, reflecting increased personal responsibility and proactive engagement with climate issues. Topic analysis reveals a shift from abstract, distant discussions of climate events to more concrete connections between the pandemic, environmental degradation, and individual and collective climate actions. The study highlights the complex interplay between concurrent crises and environmental awareness, suggesting that framing climate change in personally relevant terms during crises may enhance public engagement.