Public Perceptions of Climate ChangeConcerned #1 PanelgCORE – Fall 2011

Shameka Henson

Kara Karboski

Kristen Ramsdell

Mitch Redfern

Amanda Sargent

Katie Wolt

Overview Interviewees exhibited “concerned” views towards

climate change

“Concerned” indivudals . . . are convinced that global warming is a serious

problem. support a vigorous national response. have indicated their intention to act upon their

concern, but are not as involved as folks in the “Alarmed” category.

Data Collection and Representation

Themes and keywords were developed from one another

Matrices include Government Action, Information Sources, and Collective Climate Change Understanding

Data represents characteristics of the “Concerned” profile in addition to unanticipated attitudes or commentary.

Keywords

MAIN GROUP KEYWORDS

Climate Change (45)

Weather (40)

Information (38)

Environment (33)

Pollution (18)

Science (6)

OTHER KEYWORDS

Government

Adapt

Skeptical

Pattern

People

City

Community

Themes

Government Policy

Community (local)

Media Representations

Understandingsshallow

deep

misconceptions

Individuals

Information Sources MatrixInformation Sources Trusted Not Trusted

Least Mentioned TV (1) Computer (1) News Paper (2) Personal Internet (1) Experience/Observation (1) Government Reports (1) Researchers (1), Professors (1), Statistics (1), National Geographic(1), Books(1), Radio(1), Small articles(1), Local Discussions by reliable people (1), "visuals"(1) PBS, NPR, Nature Channel

Newspaper/ Daily Olympian (3) Untrustworthy people (1)Internet (1)

Most Mentioned Radio (2) Library (1) City Workers/ Public Servants Planning (1) Newspaper (2) Internet (1) TV nature programs(3) Science (2) "the news" (4) Documentaries, Friends/Colleagues, Occupational

Newspaper/ Daily ZeroMagazine (1) Online (1) Elected officials working towards projects (3)

Government Action MatrixGovernment Action

Most Trusted Least trusted

Most Mentioned Flood Control, Clean-up Programs, U.S. Government, City Workers, Public Servants, Economy, Balance, Planning, Federal Government,Government ReportsProfession reports

General Gov. Action,Gov. Outside U.S.,U.S. Government,Japan’s Government,China’s Government,Self Regulation,Elected Officials w/Agendas,

Least Mentioned

State Government, City GovernmentFuel Efficiency Standards

State Government,Russia’s Government,India’s Government,Political Posturing,

Keywords & Themes Matrix

Surprising OutcomesOne subject believed the NW was cooling

Changes in the aesthetics of the city were more noticeable than climate to one subject.

One person did not mention anything about climate or GHG, only visible pollution

One person believed that the more people knew about climate change, the more alarmed they would be but didn’t feel that maybe this warrants further self-education

Another subject conversely felt that alarmed people were worried about having to change their lifestyles and didn’t want to admit climate change was coming. They also felt the U.S. was leading the world on better climate change regulations.

For another interviewee, the most reliable source of climate change information came from their church.

One subject surprisingly had no surprises

Surprising QuotesWhen asked how community leaders are helping their communities prepare for climate change? My response was

“umm I think yeah like umm they try and I from my understanding like some church they give these kind of preparation to show people like umm its kind of, they use other ways like umm just use another term like religion term but they, they give preparation for people.”

When invited to share additional comments at end of interview

“if you went to some of the really small farming towns over in eastern Washington, you know, they probably wouldn’t talk to you.”

When asked the question regarding access to reliable information

“people need to be really, really careful and not have the ‘chicken little’ effect”

When asked of the same interviewee what they thought when they first heard about climate change

“United States seems to be the only ones that are really on top of it [climate change regulations] more than some of the third world countries”

Language BarriersScientific term Public meaning Better choice

enhance improve intensify, increase

aerosol spray can tiny atmospheric particle

positive trend good trend upward trendpositive feedback good response, praise vicious cycle, self-reinforcing cycle

theory hunch, speculation scientific understanding

uncertainty ignorance range

error mistake, wrong, incorrect difference from exact true number

bias distortion, political motive offset from an observation

values ethics, monetary value numbers, quantity

manipulation illicit tampering scientific data processing

scheme devious plot systematic plan

anomoly abnormal occurrence change from long-term average

http://daily.sightline.org/2011/11/21/the-art-of-talking-climate-science/?utm_source=Sightline+Newsletters&utm_campaign=b7b88011f5-SightlineWeekly&utm_medium=email

Obstacles to PersuasionSometimes, even if one acknowledges a lack of understanding about a subject, they appeared to not necessarily be made more alarmed by hearing an expert’s opinion Rrather, if they don’t understand it, they don’t worry about it. Participants also demonstrated a lack of trust in the experts. This sentiment could have a tremendous impact on how many people are willing to make sacrifices to their daily habits to help ameliorate the effects of climate change without government regulating the behaviors.

participant seemed uninspired by calls to action for climate change and disinterested in seeking further education, clarification, or insight. Others’ education, especially children’s schooling on climate change, was of greater importance than their own. Different sources of information on the subject would most likely be ignored or receive only mild amounts of attention.

Their political outlook on a green movement, however, was moderately optimistic.

Questions?