topic. Let’s look at why that is. Climate communications specialist George Marshall describes climate change as “the perfect problem,” as if it was perfectly designed to be misunderstood, ignored, and misrepresented. Te science is complex, the effects are so dire that we prefer not to think about them, and the implications of humans altering the planet are unsettling and feather- ruffling. Avoiding the worst effects of climate change will require international cooperation the likes of which we’ve rarely seen. And yet those who seek solutions often run up against powerful political and economic forces intent on preserving the status quo. Phew. No wonder it’s a touchy subject. Tere are many layers of psychological and cognitive cues that are telling our brains to reject this information. Regardless
of the impression you
may get from the media (or your Uncle Lyle), most Americans do understand the situation. Nearly two-thirds of Americans agree that the climate is warming, 74% trust climate scientists, and a narrow but important majority understands that humans are the primary cause. Despite that, we are slow to find traction with solutions. Many people get the basic idea but are confused, hopeless, or unmotivated to learn more. Meanwhile, the tangled politics
around the issue prevent progress at the highest levels. So we are at a crossroads with public engagement: most people are on board with the science, but have yet to take meaningful strides toward addressing the problem.
KEY CONCEPTS IN CLIMATE CHANGE Even though climate science is complex, it can be boiled down to a handful of simple, key concepts. After all, you can teach everything from switch riding or bump skiing, right? Tose are complicated topics, but you can explain them well because you are able to dispense information in small, useful doses. If you’d like to kick start a productive conversation about climate change, you can use the list on page 52 as a starting point to solidify your own understanding. Once you’ve wrapped your head around this information, you can move onto other facets if you
WHAT DO PEOPLE REALLY THINK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE? You’re probably familiar with the polarized viewpoints on climate change. High- pitched extremes, particularly from the climate-change-is-not-manmade camp, can dampen one’s desire to get involved with the topic. But take comfort in knowing those extremes may represent the loudest voices, but not necessarily the most common ones. Public opinion on climate change is nuanced and a lot more interesting than the simple pro or con viewpoints. According to studies by the Yale/George Mason University Project on Climate Change Communication, people’s outlooks fall into six distinct categories, called “Global Warming’s Six Americas.” On either end of the spectrum lie those who are most committed to their viewpoints. In the middle are those who are uncertain what to think, are confused, doubtful, fearful, or otherwise unengaged in the topic. The people in the middle make up 40% of Americans. It’s here that you’ll find people
who are open to conversation and who benefit most from information from trusted sources and peers. In essence, these are the “swing voters” of climate change.
THE SPECIAL CASE OF CLIMATE DENIERS Given the fervor of their discourse, you might think that vehement opposition to the very idea of climate change comes from a large segment of our population. In fact, only 15% of Americans are “dismissive” of climate change research. But while their numbers are small, their commitment is solid. Public opinion research shows that this group is unlikely to change their minds, regardless of the type of information they re- ceive. That’s because their viewpoint of this issue is closely wedded to their personal, cultural, and political worldview. These are deeply-held beliefs and they are not going to change. If you’re not in their camp, your best bet is to back away from the subject. “Hey, you’ve got some sweet skis there! How do you like that rocker profile?” Where do you think you line up on the “Six Americas” spectrum? Take the short quiz and find out your profile at
http://uw.kqed.org/climatesurvey/index-kqed.php Learn more about Americans’ viewpoints on climate change at the Yale Project on
Climate Change Communication at
http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication/ How does the public opinion in your state or county stack up on various climate,
energy, and policy topics? Visit an interactive map from the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication at
http://environment.yale.edu/poe/v2014/.
TO LEARN MORE There are some fantastic resources out there that are designed to communicate cli- mate information to the general public. Check these out yourself and also use them for referrals. Skeptical Science – This popular site has clear explanations and excellent graphics, and covers the common questions and misunderstandings about climate science. There is even a smartphone app for quick chairlift fact-checking!
http://www.skepti-
calscience.com/ NOAA and NASA – Both of these sites have “climate portals” that are designed to cre- ate engaging gateways to tons of climate information and interactive graphics, straight from top-notch sources:
https://www.climate.gov/ and
http://climate.nasa.gov/
—Karin Kirk
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