Activity #1 - What do Americans Believe about climate change?
First I want you to watch this video:
2022 Climate Summit Series: Climate Change in the American Mind
Pay close attention to what the trends have been in the USA as far as the public's beliefs regarding climate change. What sticks out to you? Why do you think these trends are the way they are?
Is climate change happening? --- almost 3/4 say yes
Is climate change human caused? --- only a little over half say yes
Are you worried about climate change? --- only about 1/3rd are very worried
How much do you think you will be harmed by climate change? --- people tend to not see these effects as immediate and personal, but happening elsewhere and/or in the future
Is climate change affecting the weather? --- sharp uptick to almost half think so, owing to increased mention in news, etc.
Is climate change harming people in the USA? --- about half say yes
Have you personally experienced the affects of global warming? - about half say yes
Have you considered moving in response to global warming? - 1 in 10 say yes
Think about the spatial distribution of who is concerned about climate change...
Harming wildlife vs people vs yourself...this drives (or hinders) action
6 Americas: Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, Dismissive
(i) talk about it, (ii) know your audience, (iii) communicate the growing risks from climate change
Activity #2 - What is it about climate change that makes it so difficult for humans to get a grasp of it?
Please watch the following video:
Why humans are so bad at thinking about climate change
Pay close attention to how humans have developed, why climate change is hard for humans to grasp and take action on, and how we can use our understanding of human cognition to spur action.
doom & gloom makes people passive - guilt and fear make people turn off
most Americans continue to think about climate change as distant in time and/or space
Ozone hole was a very different problem
GHG are invisible - hinders people's desire to take action
Energy use is an example of a really tangible aspect of GHG and can make GHG production more visible (money, environment and children's health)
Social competition seems to increase people's desire to reduce GHG (in the absence of strong financial incentives due to cheap energy)
Humans are social creatures and social pressure does work - tap into the competitive spirit
Activity #3 - How did climate change get political?
Please browse this video to start to understand the answer to that question:
Climate Change Turns 30: Tribalism and Sustainability
Pay close attention specifically to the historical development of the political divide we see in climate change beliefs today in the USA and how this arose.
Tribalism: In-Out Group Framing: Love/Loyalty/Friendship, Hatred/Moral Outrage/Jealousy -- overly culture on top of this
KKK, Nazi, Stalin & Genocide
Emergence of nuclear weapons led to more of a focus on globalism (step out of tribalism) from 1950 to 2000
2000 onwards we have seen a re-emergence of tribalism facilitated by internet and social media - used for political and economic gain
technology has tapped into a very human frame (tribalism)
USA = red/blue divide...but USA really looks more purple on the whole
Why when we talk about climate change do we say Republicans do not accept climate science and Democrats do?
Environment and Climate Change legislation used to be bipartisan
1990 was the beginning of the "Great Estrangement"
1970s and 1980s - need for a strong coherent conservative identity. Fossil fuel money made its way into the conservative tribal identity and pro environment Republicans were removed (called RINOs)
Anti-Elitism --> pushback against academics, government officials, etc.
Media bubbles reinforces identity (right and left both)
Large scale solutions needed to address climate change caused pushback from big business
Enduring sources of environmentalism within conservative circles: religion, hunting/fishing/outdoors, military/national security, energy self reliance (solar), business sustainability (i.e. regen ag), rural economic opportunities in wind & solar
Tribalism can be a force that exacerbates climate change OR spurs work on it
Activity #4 - How can we use "what we have in common" to communicate climate change rather than "what divides us"?
Please watch this video:
Personal Identity and Climate Change | Emily Diamond | TEDxURI
We are living in an increasingly partisan country
We are stuck at looking at climate change through our partisan perspectives - but there are more facets to look through
Identities - the way we see ourselves and how we operate in the world
We all have multiple facets of our identity that interact with climate change in different ways - farming, birding, children health and well-being
Must shift frame of climate change to connect with a wide range of identities
Activity #5 - Browse through some Fox News Articles about climate change. I have chosen Fox News because it is a mainstream news outlet and has active comment boards. To find articles just put "climate change" into the search bar. I want you to scroll down and focus on the comment sections. From your own research...what are the critiques provided regarding climate change? Which are used most often? Why do you think these are common? Here are a few articles to get you started:
Based on what you have read - in what areas do we need to concentrate our Environmental Education efforts in order better serve our audiences?
Identify the specific KEY basic concepts that you feel are crucial for all members of the public to understand regarding climate change
Peruse the Next Gen standards regarding climate change. Do these seem to appropriately cover the key basic concepts as you see them? What are some specifics?
Is......EE......around......climate.....change.....important.....and......needed?????