Understanding Public Opinion on Climate Change: A Call for Research
DOWNLOADJune 30, 2011 - Sandra T. Marquart-Pyatt, Rachael L. Shwom, Thomas Dietz, Riley E. Dunlap, Stan A. Kaplowitz, Aaron M. McCright, and Sammy Zahran
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EmailJournal or Book Title: Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development
Volume/Issue: 53/4
Page Number(s): 38-42
Year Published: 2011
There is strong scientific consensus concerning the reality of anthropogenic climate change (CC) and its potential consequences.1 However, increased confidence among scientists has not translated into a public consensus within the United States.2 Indeed, numerous polls indicate a decline in public acceptance of CC over the past two to three years (although some polls show a slight uptick since mid-2010). For example, Gallup Polls, trends for which appear in the figure here, show substantial declines from 2008 to 2010 in the percentages of Americans believing that global warming is already occurring (61 percent to 50 percent); that it is due more to human activities than natural changes (58 percent to 50 percent); and that most scientists believe it is occurring (65 percent to 52 percent).
DOI: 10.1080/00139157.2011.588555
Type of Publication: Working Paper/White Paper
Publisher: Routledge
