Environmental Psychology - 2018 - Steg - Climate Change as a Unique Environmental Problem

Climate Change as a Unique Environmental Problem

3.1 INTRODUCTION

• Climate Change Overview

  • What is Climate Change?: It refers to changes in weather patterns and temperatures caused mostly by human activities, especially since the 1970s.

  • Why is it a Problem?: Climate change causes serious issues like displacement of people, health problems, increased deaths, and extinction of animals. People in poorer countries are affected more, even though richer countries contribute more to the problem.

  • Unique Features:

    • It's a global issue affecting many aspects of life but has different impacts in different places.

    • It requires big changes in how we live and do business to help solve the problem.

    • Individual actions (like driving a car or what we eat) affect climate change, making it hard for people to understand their role.

  • Public Understanding:

    • Awareness has improved since the 1980s, but many still confuse climate change with regular weather changes.

    • Not everyone understands the carbon cycle or connects it to their own actions.

    • Beliefs about climate change often depend on political views, and providing more information does not always change minds.

    • Climate change's complex and diffuse nature results in public difficulties in understanding its risks and responding appropriately.

  • Perception and Action:

    • How people see the risks of climate change affects how they act; some think it's not a big deal.

    • Accepting personal responsibility is important.

    • Mitigating climate change means reducing harmful gas emissions, and adapting means preparing for its effects, especially for those most at risk.

  • Key Terms:

    • Adaptation: Adjusting to effects of climate change.

    • Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gases to lessen climate change.

3.2 PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF CLIMATE CHANGE

• Historical Awareness

  • Public awareness has grown since the 1980s; early confusion linked climate change with weather and pollution.

  • Improved understanding recognizes fossil fuel combustion as a primary cause of climate change.

• Knowledge Gaps

  • Ocean acidification remains largely misunderstood, highlighting limited public grasp of the carbon cycle.

  • Many individuals attribute climate change to others' energy consumption rather than their own due to lack of awareness.

• Polarized Beliefs

  • Beliefs about climate change are increasingly divided along party lines, with political affiliation predicting acceptance of climate science.

  • Providing information does not effectively change the views of overly skeptical groups; rather, it often reinforces existing biases.

  • The source and manner of information impacts public understanding and perceptions more than the content alone.

3.3 ASSESSING THE RISK OF CLIMATE CHANGE

• Perceptions of Risk

  • People's perception of climate change risk influences their behavior and response.

  • Vulnerable groups view climate change as an immediate threat, while others regard it as a lesser concern compared to more immediate issues.

  • Certain groups perceive anthropogenic climate change as a hoax, often driven by ideological beliefs.

• Public Opinion and Clustering

  • Public opinion can be segmented into identifiable groups (e.g., Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious) based on climate change attitudes and policy support.

  • The size of these opinion groups has remained stable over recent years, indicating entrenched beliefs.

• Tailored Messaging

  • Understanding these groups can inform how to communicate the urgency and details of climate change effectively.

3.3.1 Detecting a Problem

• Challenges in Detection

  • Climate change effects are often invisible and revealed through scientific models, complicating public recognition.

  • Impacts are broader than weather changes, complicating the public's ability to see connections.

  • People focus on short-term weather rather than long-term climate trends, aided by cognitive biases that prioritize immediate experiences.

3.3.2 Interpretations of Problems

• Threat Perception

  • Many do not perceive climate change as a significant threat due to various psychological barriers.

  • Attributional ambiguity reduces clarity on whether specific issues result from climate change or other factors.

  • Psychological distance contributes to diminished perceived risk, with optimism bias leading individuals to believe negative impacts won't affect them directly.

  • Solution aversion occurs as individuals may reject climate science when solutions involve government intervention over market-based responses.

3.3.3 Accepting Responsibility and Taking Action

• Need for Responsibility

  • Accepting personal and collective responsibility is essential for action on climate change.

  • Mitigation strategies include reducing greenhouse gas emissions through lifestyle changes.

  • Adaptation strategies involve preparing for climate impacts while addressing social justice issues as vulnerable populations face the highest risks.

3.4 SUMMARY

• Key Takeaways

  • Climate change is a complex, global issue with public understanding and response influenced by numerous psychological and informational factors.

  • The need for targeted approaches and consideration of environmental justice is imperative in addressing climate change.

GLOSSARY

• Adaptation: Adjusting to and preparing for climate change impacts.

• Anthropogenic Climate Change: Human caused climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions.

• Attributional Ambiguity: Uncertainty about the cause and impact of climate change due to multiple explanations.

• Availability Heuristic: A cognitive shortcut related to the most immediate examples in assessing risk.

• Climate Change: Long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns caused by natural or human factors.

• Environmental Justice: Policies designed to prevent harm to future generations and the environment.

• Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to alleviate climate change impacts.

• Motivated Reasoning: Bias in information assessment aligned with personal beliefs.

• Ocean Acidification: Decrease in ocean alkalinity due to increased CO2 absorption.

• Psychological Distance: Perceived separation from climate change impacts based on time, location, and social factors.

• Resilience: The capacity to cope with adverse experiences.

• Solution Aversion: Disregarding problems when proposed solutions are unappealing.

• Vulnerability: Risk of being harmed or affected negatively.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING

• Community, environmental, and psychological perspectives on addressing climate change are extensively documented in varied sources for deeper understanding.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Why might providing additional information about climate change be ineffective?

2. Describe the three parts of the emergency response analogy to understand risk assessment.

3. List three psychological factors contributing to a lack of concern regarding climate change.