scholarly journals From Air Pollution to the Climate Crisis: Leaving the Comfort Zone

Daedalus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 149 (4) ◽  
pp. 108-117
Author(s):  
Patrick L. Kinney
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Research Area ◽  
The Public ◽  
Zero Carbon ◽  
Climate And Health ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
Support Research

While climate change poses existential risks to human health and welfare, the public health research community has been slow to embrace the topic. This isn't so much about a lack of interest as it is about the lack of dedicated funding to support research. An interesting contrast can be drawn with the field of air pollution and health, which has been an active and well-supported research area for almost fifty years. My own career journey started squarely in the latter setting in the 1980s, but transitioned to a major focus on climate and health starting around 2000. The journey has been punctuated with opportunities and obstacles, most of which still exist. In the meantime, a large body of evidence has grown on the health impacts of climate change, adding more urgency to the imperative for action. Institutionalization of climate and health within the federal regulatory and funding apparatus is now needed if we are to make the transition to zero carbon in ways that maximize health and equity benefits.

scholarly journals Comparing the effects of climate change labelling on reactions of the Taiwanese public

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-San Hung ◽  
Mucahid Mustafa Bayrak
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
General Public ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Climate Change Risk ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Behavioural Intentions ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Media ◽  
Change Beliefs ◽  
Climate Crisis

AbstractScientists and the media are increasingly using the terms ‘climate emergency’ or ‘climate crisis’ to urge timely responses from the public and private sectors to combat the irreversible consequences of climate change. However, whether the latest trend in climate change labelling can result in stronger climate change risk perceptions in the public is unclear. Here we used survey data collected from 1,892 individuals across Taiwan in 2019 to compare the public’s reaction to a series of questions regarding climate change beliefs, communication, and behavioural intentions under two labels: ‘climate change’ and ‘climate crisis.’ The respondents had very similar responses to the questions using the two labels. However, we observed labelling effects for specific subgroups, with some questions using the climate crisis label actually leading to backlash effects compared with the response when using the climate change label. Our results suggest that even though the two labels provoke similar reactions from the general public, on a subgroup level, some backlash effects may become apparent. For this reason, the label ‘climate crisis’ should be strategically chosen.

scholarly journals Evidence-based communication on climate change and health: Testing videos, text, and maps on climate change and Lyme disease in Manitoba, Canada

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252952
Author(s):  
Laura Cameron ◽  
Rhéa Rocque ◽  
Kailey Penner ◽  
Ian Mauro
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Cumulative Impacts ◽  
The Public ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Audience Responses ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
Environmental Behaviours

Given the climate crisis and its cumulative impacts on public health, effective communication strategies that engage the public in adaptation and mitigation are critical. Many have argued that a health frame increases engagement, as do visual methodologies including online and interactive platforms, yet to date there has been limited research on audience responses to health messaging using visual interventions. This study explores public attitudes regarding communication tools focused on climate change and climate-affected Lyme disease through six focus groups (n = 61) in rural and urban southern Manitoba, Canada. The results add to the growing evidence of the efficacy of visual and storytelling methods in climate communications and argues for a continuum of mediums: moving from video, text, to maps. Findings underscore the importance of tailoring both communication messages and mediums to increase uptake of adaptive health and environmental behaviours, for some audiences bridging health and climate change while for others strategically decoupling them.

Chile's pollution problems require regulatory rethink

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Agenda ◽  
The Government

Subject Air pollution concerns. Significance After a decade in which air quality in Chilean cities has shown little progress and has, in some cases, deteriorated, a two-week smog crisis in Santiago has highlighted the need for a reinvigorated approach to the problem. This is particularly the case because the crisis was triggered by lack of rainfall, one of the expected effects of climate change in central Chile. Impacts According to the government, air pollution-related illnesses continue to cost between 670 million and 1.9 billion dollars annually. Air pollution is primarily a winter problem and tends to slip out of the public agenda during the rest of the year. In a context of slow economic growth, tighter industry emissions standards would face important business opposition.

scholarly journals Different Countries, Common Support for Climate Change Mitigation: The Case of Germany and Poland

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Bohdanowicz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
Emotional Response ◽  
Climate Change Mitigation ◽  
Carbon Tax ◽  
The Public ◽  
Climate Policies ◽  
Common Support ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
Change Mitigation

There are numerous studies assessing the influence of individual sociological, political, and demographic factors on attitudes towards climate change. However, there is still a need for a deeper understanding of the reasons behind these attitudes and for research based on results from more than one country. This study empirically examines a range of psychosocial and demographic determinants of support for climate policy (renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon tax) in Germany and Poland (n = 1969). The results show that the societies of both countries, despite significant differences in income, culture and political stance on climate change, similarly support implementation of climate policies. For both countries valid predictors of support are: awareness, emotional response to climate crisis, sense of control, and belief in effectiveness of solutions; the study also shows predictors relevant in only one country. Factor analysis identified similar dimensions of attitudes toward climate change in both countries. The main findings show that support for climate policy is high in both countries and that the public is ready to accept more ambitious climate goals. Despite the differences between the countries, a coherent climate policy seems justified. The study also shows differences between the countries and provides recommendations for policymakers.

scholarly journals Et tabt årti? Dansk klimadækning siden COP15

Politik ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikkel Fugl Eskjær
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
News Media ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Sharp Drop ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Climate Crisis

Danish media coverage of climate change peaked in 2009 when Denmark hosted COP15. Like most other countries Denmark experienced a sharp drop in climate change reporting following the failure of COP15. It is only within recent years that Danish climate change agenda is showing signs of regaining some of its former strength. What can we learn from ten years of climate change reporting in Danish media? How is the climate crisis communicated in the public sphere? How much attention is payed to the climate change agenda and who gets to speak about the climate? The present investigation looks at ten years of Danish climate change reporting across different news media and media platforms, focusing on the development of the media’s climate change agenda and the sources that dominates climate change reporting.

scholarly journals Taking Lessons from Silent Spring: Using Environmental Literature for Climate Change

Literature ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Craig A. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Public Engagement ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
Environmental Literature ◽  
New Era ◽  
The Public ◽  
Silent Spring ◽  
Climate Crisis ◽  
Contemporary Climate ◽  
Insight Into

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962) created a new genre termed “science nonfiction literature.” This genre blended environmental science and narrative while ushering in a new era of awareness and interest for both. With the contemporary climate crisis becoming more dire, this article returns to Carson’s work for insight into ways to engage deniers of climate change and methods to propel action. Further, it investigates and evaluates the writing within Silent Spring by considering its past in our present. Using the corporate reception of Carson’s book as reference, this article also examines ways climate change opponents create misunderstandings and inappropriately deceive and misdirect the public. Through this analysis, connections are made that connect literature, science, and public engagement, which can engender a broader, more comprehensive awareness of the importance of environmental literature as a medium for climate awareness progress.

Link between precipitations and air quality in Bucharest Greater Area, Romania

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiberiu Hriscan ◽  
Sorin Burcea ◽  
Gabriela Iorga
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Meteorological Parameters ◽  
Pollutant Emission ◽  
Air Mass ◽  
The Public ◽  
Aerosol Mass Concentration ◽  
Scavenging Coefficient

<p>Air pollution and climate change represent today key environmental issues. They are highly linked each other through various ways. Pollutant emission reductions can improve both air quality and mitigate the climate changes. On the other hand, heavy precipitations and/or an increased frequency of their occurrence (climate change) might help to clean the air from pollutants. Despite of the scientific progress, the understanding of atmospheric pollutant wet removal in urban and peri-urban areas is still subject to a large uncertainty. Among factors of uncertainties are aerosol large variability, different sources, aerosol-cloud processing.</p><p>This study examines how the concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 10 μm (PM<sub>10</sub>) and below 2.5 μm (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) might be linked with precipitation characteristics using an observational data set for three years (2015-2017) in Bucharest metropolitan area. Particulate matter data and meteorological parameters at each site (atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, temperature, global solar radiation, wind speed and direction) were extracted from the public available Romanian National Air Quality Database. Meteorology was complemented with radar products (images, reflectivity, echotops) from the C-band meteorological radar from National Meteorological Administration in Bucharest. Change of aerosol mass concentration during the evolution of the precipitation events was investigated. The aerosol scavenging coefficients were estimated and compared with those in scientific literature. Correlations between meteorological parameters and ambient PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> levels were analyzed. Connection of meteorological phenomena occurrence and air mass origin was investigated by computing air mass backward trajectories using the HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) model for 72 hours back.</p><p>It was found that heavy precipitations have a strong influence on the atmospheric aerosol concentrations, determining an increased value of scavenging coefficient with up to one order of magnitude higher than in case of a moderate precipitation. Higher values of scavenging coefficient than in literature reveals a good capability of the convective precipitating systems to clear the atmosphere from aerosol and pollutant species.</p><p>The obtained results are important for modeling of air quality and for investigations of aerosol wet deposition processes.</p><p><strong>Acknowledgement:</strong></p><p>The authors thank the financial support from UB198/Int project and to National Meteorological Administration for access to the RADAR database. The data regarding ground-based air pollution and meteorology by site was extracted from the public available Romanian National Air Quality Database, www.calitateaer.ro, last accessed in December 2019.</p>

Fire and Climate: Connecting the Dots in British Columbia News Media

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Earle ◽  
Shane Gunster
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
News Media ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Changement Climatique ◽  
The Public ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Connecting The Dots ◽  
Climate Crisis

Background: Extreme weather events are intensifying with climate change, offering opportunities to raise the public urgency of this issue. The media’s role in communicating this connection is crucial.  Analysis: This article analyzes media coverage of wildfires over a nine-year period in British Columbia focusing on how they are linked to climate change, in particular, during the 2017 and 2018 record-breaking fire seasons.  Conclusion and implications: In media coverage in British Columbia, there is a marked absence of a link between climate change and wildfires and a tendency for connections to be tokenistic, decontextualized, and normalizing. More provocative narratives developed by various public figures that locate wildfires within broader narratives of climate crisis offer more compelling accounts. Contexte : À cause du changement climatique, les événements climatiques extrêmes sont en train de devenir plus intenses. Dans les circonstances, il devient pertinent de soulever l’urgence publique de cet enjeu, et les médias pourraient jouer un rôle crucial pour le communiquer. Analyse : Cet article analyse la couverture médiatique de feux de forêt sur une période de neuf ans en Colombie-Britannique, particulièrement durant les saisons des feux de 2017 et 2018 qui ont battu tous les records. L’article met l’accent sur comment ces incendies sont reliés au changement climatique. Conclusions et implications : Dans la couverture médiatique en Colombie-Britannique, on néglige de montrer les liens qui existent entre le changement climatique et les feux de forêt. Toute connexion établie tend à être superficielle, décontextualisée et normalisée. En revanche, diverses personnalités publiques ont incorporé les feux de forêt dans des narrations englobant l’idée de crise climatique, offrant ainsi une perspective plus intéressante, voire provocatrice.

scholarly journals The Obligation of Law Schools to Teach Climate Change Law

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Ireland-Piper ◽  
Nick James
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Public Good ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Law Schools ◽  
Address Climate Change ◽  
Job Readiness ◽  
The Public ◽  
Social Governance ◽  
The Law ◽  
Climate Crisis

  Climate change will impact most, if not all, aspects of law and regulation. Law is a key mechanism of social governance, and it has a key role to play in regulating and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change. In the midst of the unfolding climate crisis law schools have a clear and pressing obligation to contribute to efforts to address climate change and its consequences by ensuring climate change law occupies an appropriate place in the law curriculum. In this article we consider the obligation of universities, and law schools in particular, to respond appropriately to the climate crisis in their program offerings. We begin by reflecting on the obligation of law schools and universities to contribute to the public good, an obligation often downplayed given the contemporary emphasis upon the ‘job-readiness’ of graduates and other neoliberal priorities. We then focus on the obligation of universities and law schools to respond appropriately to climate change. We examine the landscape of climate change law and identify the essential elements of climate change law for inclusion in the law curriculum. And we conclude by identifying examples of ways in which law schools are already incorporating climate change law into their law programs.

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