Geographies of Climate Change Belief

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Hopkins ◽  
Ezra M. Markowitz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
National Scale ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Change Perceptions ◽  
Nationally Representative

Despite scientific consensus on the anthropogenic causation of climate change, and ever-growing knowledge on the biophysical impacts of climate change, there is large variability in public perceptions of and belief in climate change. Public support for national and international climate policy has a strong positive association with certainty that climate change is occurring, human caused, serious, and solvable. Thus to achieve greater acceptance of national climate policy and international agreements, it is important to raise public belief in climate change and understandings of personal climate risk. Public understandings of climate change and associated risk perceptions have received significant academic attention. This research has been conducted across a range of spatial scales, with particular attention on large-scale, nationally representative surveys to gain insights into country-scale perceptions of climate change. Generalizability of nationally representative surveys allows some degree of national comparison; however, the ability to conduct such comparisons has been limited by the availability of comparative data sets. Consequently, empirical insights have been geographically biased toward Europe and North America, with less understanding of public perceptions of climate change in other geographical settings including the Global South. Moreover, a focus on quantitative surveying techniques can overlook the more nuanced, culturally determined factors that contribute to the construction of climate change perceptions. The physical and human geographies of climate change are diverse. This is due to the complex spatial dimensions of climate change and includes both the observed and anticipated geographical differentiation in risks, impacts, and vulnerabilities. While country location and national climate can impact upon how climate change is understood, so too will sociocultural factors such as national identity and culture(s). Studies have reported high variability in climate change perceptions, the result of a complex interplay between personal experiences of climate, social norms, and worldviews. Exploring the development of national-scale analyses and their findings over time, and the comparability of national data sets, may provide some insights into the factors that influence public perceptions of climate change and identify national-scale interventions and communications to raise risk perception and understanding of climate change.

scholarly journals Spatial-temporal variation of CO2 emissions from private vehicle use in Japan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Long ◽  
Yoshikuni Yoshida ◽  
Yuan Li ◽  
Alexandros Gasparatos
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Vehicle Emissions ◽  
City Size ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Private Vehicle ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract The transport sector is a major contributor to anthropogenic climate change through the emissions of large amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from fossil fuel combustion. Private vehicles account for almost half of the transport energy demand, and are thus a major target of climate change mitigation efforts. However, emissions from private vehicles can have large variability due to various geographic, demographic and socioeconomic factors. This study aims to understand how such factors affect private vehicle emissions in Japan using a nationally representative survey of household energy consumption (n=7,370) for 2017. The results indicate a large temporal and spatial variability in private vehicle emissions. Annual emissions show three peaks associated with major holiday seasons in winter and summer. Some of the more noteworthy spatial patterns are the higher emissions in prefectures characterized by low population density and mountainous terrain. Income, city size and the fuel-saving driving behavior all have a significant effect on emissions. The results indicate the need for sub-regional and socioeconomically-sensitive mitigation efforts that reflect the very different emission patterns, and the factors affecting them. The strong effect of city size, which is often much more clear-cut than between prefectures, suggests that it is more appropriate to approach transport decarbonization in Japan at the city level.

scholarly journals Model cascade from meteorological drivers to river flood hazard: flood-cascade v1.0

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 4865-4890
Author(s):  
Peter Uhe ◽  
Daniel Mitchell ◽  
Paul D. Bates ◽  
Nans Addor ◽  
Jeff Neal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Climate Modeling ◽  
Flood Hazard ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Flood Inundation

Abstract. Riverine flood hazard is the consequence of meteorological drivers, primarily precipitation, hydrological processes and the interaction of floodwaters with the floodplain landscape. Modeling this can be particularly challenging because of the multiple steps and differing spatial scales involved in the varying processes. As the climate modeling community increases their focus on the risks associated with climate change, it is important to translate the meteorological drivers into relevant hazard estimates. This is especially important for the climate attribution and climate projection communities. Current climate change assessments of flood risk typically neglect key processes, and instead of explicitly modeling flood inundation, they commonly use precipitation or river flow as proxies for flood hazard. This is due to the complexity and uncertainties of model cascades and the computational cost of flood inundation modeling. Here, we lay out a clear methodology for taking meteorological drivers, e.g., from observations or climate models, through to high-resolution (∼90 m) river flooding (fluvial) hazards. Thus, this framework is designed to be an accessible, computationally efficient tool using freely available data to enable greater uptake of this type of modeling. The meteorological inputs (precipitation and air temperature) are transformed through a series of modeling steps to yield, in turn, surface runoff, river flow, and flood inundation. We explore uncertainties at different modeling steps. The flood inundation estimates can then be related to impacts felt at community and household levels to determine exposure and risks from flood events. The approach uses global data sets and thus can be applied anywhere in the world, but we use the Brahmaputra River in Bangladesh as a case study in order to demonstrate the necessary steps in our hazard framework. This framework is designed to be driven by meteorology from observational data sets or climate model output. In this study, only observations are used to drive the models, so climate changes are not assessed. However, by comparing current and future simulated climates, this framework can also be used to assess impacts of climate change.

scholarly journals Multiple hazards and risk perceptions over time: the availability heuristic in Italy and Sweden under COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3439-3447
Author(s):  
Giuliano Di Baldassarre ◽  
Elena Mondino ◽  
Maria Rusca ◽  
Emanuele Del Giudice ◽  
Johanna Mård ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Cognitive Process ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Availability Heuristic ◽  
Multiple Hazards ◽  
Country Differences ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. The severe impact of global crises, such as COVID-19 and climate change, is plausibly reshaping the way in which people perceive risks. In this paper, we examine and compare how global crises and local disasters influence public perceptions of multiple hazards in Italy and Sweden. To this end, we integrate information about the occurrence of hazardous events with the results of two nationwide surveys. These included more than 4000 participants and were conducted in two different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic corresponding to low (August 2020) and high (November 2020) levels of infection rates. We found that, in both countries, people are more worried about risks related to experienced events. This is in line with the cognitive process known as the availability heuristic: individuals assess the risk associated with a given hazard based on how easily it comes to their mind. Epidemics, for example, are perceived as less likely and more impactful in Italy compared to Sweden. This outcome can be explained by cross-country differences in the impact of, as well as governmental responses to, COVID-19. Notwithstanding the ongoing pandemic, people in both Italy and Sweden are highly concerned about climate change, and they rank it as the most likely threat.

Managerial perceptions and responses to climate change in Missouri state parks and historic sites

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ojetunde Ayodeji Ojewola
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Outdoor Recreation ◽  
Political Orientation ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
State Parks ◽  
Historic Sites ◽  
Audience Segmentation ◽  
Change Perceptions

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Climate change has been described as one of the greatest, long-term challenges facing modern society. Its impacts range from alteration of ecosystem structure and function to human health and welfare. Few studies have focused on the social aspects of climate change, and none on parks and protected areas, in the Midwest. The perceptions of park managers are an important, but overlooked dimension of climate change and outdoor recreation policy. This dissertation used a multi-method approach to examine, explore and explain the climate change perceptions of those employed at Missouri state parks and historic sites in year 2016. A total of 495 surveys were administered to MSP employees using online and mail methods, and 405 responded, yielding 82% response rate. A qualitative analysis was conducted with district park managers to gain a deeper understanding of system-wide responses to climate change. Spatial analysis was used to map the distribution of extreme weather events across Missouri in relation to vulnerability and resilience. This approach allowed for triangulation, thus increasing credibility. Findings from this study supported the hypothesized socio-demographic differences among climate change perceptions of park employees. Political orientation, gender, education and job title were significant with belief in climate change, concern about climate-related impacts, support for pro-environmental behavior and adaptation and trust in source of climate change information. Findings also revealed the influence of cognition, affect, concern, and other socio-cultural factors on climate change risk perceptions using hierarchical multiple regression analysis, accounting for 73% of the variance. This study identified and explained several important indicators for shaping personal, societal and place-based risk perceptions. Linear discriminant analysis was used for audience segmentation. This procedure resulted in six different groups (Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive) characterized by their belief, behavior, policy preference, and issue engagement. Findings showed differences among park employees and highlighted the importance of audience segmentation for messaging climate change communication. Perceived vulnerability and resilience were collapsed into a 2X2 typology, and used to construct a 3-point continuum (1=high vulnerability / low resilience to 3=low vulnerability / high resilience). State park employees thought the system was more resilient and less vulnerable to climate change than what other indicators showed. A deductive qualitative approach was used to confirm and develop a conceptual climate change resilience model, linking theory with practice. The newly developed model described the process of recovery from climate-related impact within the state park system using resilience theory. Results of this study may be useful for environmental decision-making behavior, policy formation and adaptation strategy development within the park system, in addition to some important theoretical contributions.

scholarly journals The Influence of Political Ideology and Socioeconomic Vulnerability on Perceived Health Risks of Heat Waves in the Context of Climate Change

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 731-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Cutler ◽  
Jennifer R. Marlon ◽  
Peter D. Howe ◽  
Anthony Leiserowitz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Heat Wave ◽  
Census Tract ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Political Orientation ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Socioeconomic Vulnerability ◽  
Census Tract Level

Abstract Vulnerability and resilience to extreme weather hazards are a function of diverse physical, social, and psychological factors. Previous research has focused on individual factors that influence public perceptions of hazards, such as politics, ideology, and cultural worldviews, as well as on socioeconomic and demographic factors that affect geographically based vulnerability, environmental justice, and community resilience. Few studies have investigated individual socioeconomic and racial/ethnic differences in public risk perceptions of the health hazards associated with extreme heat events, which are now increasing due to climate change. This study uses multilevel statistical modeling to investigate individual- and geographic-level (e.g., census tract level and regional) social, economic, and biophysical influences on public perceptions of the adverse health impacts associated with heat waves. Political orientation and climate change beliefs are the strongest predictors of heat wave health risk perceptions; household income also has a relatively strong and consistent effect. Contextual socioeconomic vulnerability, measured with a social vulnerability index at the census tract level, also significantly affects heat wave risk perceptions. The strong influence of political orientation and climate beliefs on perceptions of adverse health impacts from heat waves suggests that ideological predispositions can increase vulnerability to climate change.

scholarly journals An Assessment of Public Perceptions of Climate Change Risk in Three Western U.S. Cities

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 449-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail Sullivan ◽  
Dave D. White
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Metropolitan Areas ◽  
Personal Responsibility ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Climate Change Risk ◽  
The Public

Abstract Risk perceptions influence individual and collective action related to climate change, and there is an important gap between public and expert perceptions of climate change risk, especially in the United States. Past studies have found that on average 40% of the American public believe climate change will affect them personally. We contribute a study of climate change risk perceptions in the metropolitan areas of three western U.S. cities (Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix, Arizona), assessing overall patterns and drivers. A representative mail survey (N = 786) of the general public in these cities revealed that 60% of respondents identified climate change as personally risky, with the perception that it will impact either their family or their city in the next 30 years. Our results indicate that the gap in risk perceptions between the public and experts may be decreasing, although we discuss several limitations and reasons why this result requires further investigation. Using regression models, we analyze factors that are hypothesized to drive risk perceptions and discover that pro-environmental worldview and perceived personal responsibility are the most influential predictors. We discuss the implications of our results for fostering collective action to address climate change in dry, western U.S. metropolitan areas.

scholarly journals What Drives Risk Perceptions? Revisiting Public Perceptions of Food Hazards Associated With Production and Consumption

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Jenkins ◽  
Adam John Linton Harris ◽  
Magda Osman
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Risk Characteristics ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
Food Market ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Main Components

As food technology continues to advance, the potential for new food products to enter the food market grows, attracting considerable media interest. Whilst previous research has explored public perceptions of food-related hazards, much of this took place over 10 years ago. Continued technological developments have yielded new food products, for which there is no extant research on public perceptions. In light of this, there is a pressing need to update and extend research exploring public perceptions of food-related hazards. Using a psychometric approach, a nationally representative UK sample (n= 907) provided ratings of 11 old and new food hazards on a total of 12 risk characteristics (identified from previous research). Principal components analysis identified two main components: ‘dread’ and ‘knowledge’, which explained 80.8% of the variance in perceptions, consistent with past findings. Additives were perceived as the least dreaded and most known of the hazards considered, whereas ractopamine pork, atrazine corn and hormone beef were dreaded the most. 3D printed food and lab-grown meat were perceived as the least known. Our results highlight the importance of knowledge in shaping risk perceptions and have implications for risk management. An understanding of the factors which determine risk perceptions is vital for the development of effective risk management and risk communication strategies.

Epidemics, climate change and natural hazards: Impacts and risk perceptions under COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuliano Di Baldassarre ◽  
Elena Mondino ◽  
Elena Raffetti
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Multiple Hazards ◽  
Multiple Risks ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Way

<p>Epidemics, climate change and natural hazards are increasingly affecting humankind and are plausibly re-shaping the way in which people perceive multiple risks. Here we integrate epidemiological, policy, climate and natural hazard data with the results of two waves of nationwide surveys in Italy and Sweden. These were conducted in two different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic corresponding to low (August 2020) and high (November 2020) levels of infection rates. We investigate the interplay between negative impacts and public perceptions of multiple hazards including epidemics, floods, droughts, wildfires, earthquakes, and climate change. Similarities and differences between Italy and Sweden allow us to investigate the role of policy, media coverage, and direct experience in explaining public perceptions of multiple hazards. The way in which people think about epidemics, for example, is expected to have been substantially influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic that has severely affected both countries, but to which the Italian and Swedish authorities responded differently. Indeed, we found that epidemics are perceived as less likely and more impactful in Italy compared to Sweden. In addition, when multiple hazards are considered, people are more worried about risks related to recently occurred events. This is in line with the cognitive process known as availability heuristic: individuals assess the risk associated with a given hazard based on how easily it comes to their mind. Furthermore, for the majority of hazards, we found that in both countries women and younger people are generally more concerned. These new insights about the interplay between multiple hazards and public perceptions can inform the development of sustainable policies to reduce disaster risk while promoting public health.</p><p> </p>

scholarly journals Potential impact of a US climate policy and air quality regulations on future air quality and climate change

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 5323-5342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunha Lee ◽  
Drew T. Shindell ◽  
Greg Faluvegi ◽  
Rob W. Pinder
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Indirect Forcing

Abstract. We have investigated how future air quality and climate change are influenced by the US air quality regulations that existed or were proposed in 2013 and a hypothetical climate mitigation policy that aims to reduce 2050 CO2 emissions to be 50 % below 2005 emissions. Using the NASA GISS ModelE2 general circulation model, we look at the impacts for year 2030 and 2055. The US energy-sector emissions are from the GLIMPSE project (GEOS-Chem LIDORT Integrated with MARKAL (MARKet ALlocation) for the Purpose of Scenario Exploration), and other US emissions data sets and the rest of the world emissions data sets are based on the RCP4.5 scenario. The US air quality regulations are projected to have a strong beneficial impact on US air quality and public health in year 2030 and 2055 but result in positive radiative forcing. Under this scenario, no more emission constraints are added after 2020, and the impacts on air quality and climate change are similar between year 2030 and 2055. Surface particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) is reduced by ∼ 2 µg m−3 on average over the USA, and surface ozone by ∼ 8 ppbv. The improved air quality prevents about 91 400 premature deaths in the USA, mainly due to the PM2.5 reduction (∼ 74 200 lives saved). The air quality regulations reduce the light-reflecting aerosols (i.e., sulfate and organic matter) more than the light-absorbing species (i.e., black carbon and ozone), leading to a strong positive radiative forcing (RF) over the USA by both aerosols' direct and indirect forcing: the total RF is  ∼ 0.04 W m−2 over the globe, and ∼ 0.8 W m−2 over the USA. Under the hypothetical climate policy, a future CO2 emissions cut is achieved in part by relying less on coal, and thus SO2 emissions are noticeably reduced. This provides air quality co-benefits, but it could lead to potential climate disbenefits over the USA. In 2055, the US mean total RF is +0.22 W m−2 due to positive aerosol direct and indirect forcing, while the global mean total RF is −0.06 W m−2 due to the dominant negative CO2 RF (instantaneous RF). To achieve a regional-scale climate benefit via a climate policy, it is critical (1) to have multinational efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and (2) to simultaneously target emission reduction of light-absorbing species (e.g., BC and O3) on top of long-lived species. The latter is very desirable as the resulting climate benefit occurs faster and provides co-benefits to air quality and public health.

scholarly journals Predictors of Willingness to Reduce Carbon Footprint and Effects of Survey Question Phrasing

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikol Miojevic ◽  
Simone Robson ◽  
Renata Ivanek Miojevic
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Political Action ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
Survey Question ◽  
Carbon Footprints ◽  
Change Perceptions ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Many

To minimize and prevent the many negative effects associated with climate change people must reduce their carbon footprints. Our objectives were to determine whether a person’s likelihood to take political action against climate change, perceptions about fracking, and education level affect their willingness to reduce carbon footprint, and whether phrasing of a survey question affects how people respond. To this end, participants’ responses were used from the publicly available nationally representative 2015 Cornell National Social Survey (CNSS) of 1,000 United States adults. Statistical analysis involved estimation and comparison of odds ratios (ORs) and the associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Findings indicated that willingness to reduce carbon footprint was positively associated with being likely to take political action against climate change (OR=6.53, 95% CI: 4.63-9.20) and with having gone to college (OR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.06-1.94). Conversely, support for fracking had a negative association with willingness to reduce carbon footprint (OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.31-0.56). In CNSS, the question about carbon footprint was phrased in five different ways that either mentioned the danger from climate change or the benefit from reducing climate change, and linked the benefit or danger to humans or birds. It was discovered that how the question is asked matters. Participants appeared more affected by mention of humans than animals, though reactions to benefit and danger were not consistent. These findings will aid education efforts about climate change and carbon footprint and also help in the design of future surveys on the topic.

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