Anthropogenic Emissions, Climate Change

& Public Opinion

Leah Underwood
Scientific Perspective

Throughout history, climate change has been a debated

topic.
Today 97 % of scientists agree that humans are the cause
of climate change
Only 41% of the general public understand that humans are the
cause of climate change.

Yale Climate Change Communication 2013

Scientific Perspective

Human activities contributing to climate change:

Use of Fossil Fuels
Agriculture
Land Use

Our activities increase greenhouse gases

Carbon Dioxide CO2
Methane CH4
Other:
Nitrous Oxide N2O
Water Vapor H2O
Ozone O3
Fluorocarbons (CFCs, HFCs, HCFCs, PFCs, SF6)
Balancing Greenhouse Gases
Faucet: Sources
Drain: Sinks

Sources < Sinks

Water Drains
Climate Cools
Sources = Sinks
Balanced
Sources > Sinks
Tub Floods
Climate Heats
What does the public
think about climate
change?

Is it happening?
What are the causes?
Where does the information
come from?
Goal

Study was previously done Fall 2015

Study population was college students

Interested in demographics that may alter the data from

previous study
Age
Education
Occupation
Methods

10 questions
5 multiple choice
5 open ended

Goal to receive quantifiable data and allow for a wide

range of responses
Broken into sections:
Demographics
Opinion
Causes
Information
Methods- Study Instrument
Methods- Survey Distribution

Survey Monkey
Distributed with a link
Facebook
Instagram
Email
Dr. Ryker

Goal:
30-50 responses

Actual:
259 responses
212 completed
Study Population

Demographic- Age
61% between ages of 21-39 <17 18-20
2% 3%

5% 20 or younger 60+
11%

34% 40 or above
50-59 21-29
11% 25%

40-49
12%

30-39
36%
Study Population
Demographic- Education
79%
has a Bachelor <High School High School
1% 2%
degree or higher
97%
have had some
degree of higher Some College
13%
education Associate
5%
Graduate
42%

Bachelor
37%
Study Population
Demographic- Occupation
Shortanswer responses
were coded into similar ST
occupations/fields of SS
3%
4% BUS
13%
study
MSC ART
15%
Atotal of 22% have a 6%

background in science ED
LAT 8%
4%

TECH
8% MED
11%

SC MLT
16% 12%
Results
View on Climate Change
1response each for Not May be
happening Don't Know
happening and Dont know 6% 0%
Not happening
1%
Only41% of this population
should be answering Is or
May be happening
As opposed to 99%

Is happening
93%

Yale Climate Change Communication 2013

Results
Serious Issue
99%
agree Climate Change is Don't Know
2%
occurring*
No
7%
Only
91% see it as an issue that
needs attention

Yes
91%
Results
Causes
Responses were coded into NA
themes 0%
IDK UN
NTP 3% 2%
NA has 1 response 8%

87%recognize HMN
36%
anthropogenic causes in NH
17%
some combination
Someanswers were too
unclear to fit into themes

IHA
34%
Results
Information
Development of
misconceptions
Other
6%
Research and Media are School
practically equal 23%

Select
multiple information
sources allowed Research
31%

Family
10%

Media
30%
Discussion

Results were far from expectations

Saw 99% agreement with climate change as opposed to 41%
87% recognize anthropogenic causes of climate change
31% of information comes from research, and 30% from media

Issues:
Study population may skew results
Largely college age respondents
Largely college educated respondents
Sizeable portion have a scientific background
Not necessarily a representation of the general public opinion

Yale Climate Change Communication 2013

Future

Fix:
Gather data that more accurately represents general
public
Further
analyze data for correlations between
demographics and opinion
Does age play a role?
Does education play a role?

Goal is to publish findings of the study after adequate

analysis has been completed
Resources and Helpful Links
http://environment.yale.edu/climate
https://www.aip.org/history/climate/index.htm
http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/clima
te/intro_background.jsp
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/seven-
case-studies-in-carbon-and-climate
https://www.climate.gov/news-
features/understanding-climate/climate-
change-global-temperature-projections
http://climate.nasa.gov/news/2329/
https://www.epa.gov/climatechange