University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Global Warming/Climate Change Survey Project Eric Jamelske, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Economics Department Jim Barrett, Ph.D. Sacramento City College, Economics Department Jim Boulter, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Chemistry Department University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire What do College Students in the United States and China Think About Global Warming/Climate Change? 1
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Overview Background Sample Results http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm 2
IPCC AR4: A State of the Planet Report Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level. Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-industrial values determined from ice cores spanning many thousands of years. There is very high confidence that the net effect of human activities since 1750 has been one of warming. Advances since the TAR show that discernible human influences extend beyond average temperature to other aspects of climate. Anthropogenic warming over the last three decades has likely had a discernible influence at the global scale on observed changes in many physical and biological systems. Anthropogenic warming and sea level rise would continue for centuries due to the time scales associated with climate processes and feedbacks, even if GHG concentrations were to be stabilized. http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/publications_ipcc_fourth_assessment_report_synthesis_report.htm Also see Oreskes (2004) and Anderegg et al. (2010) 3
With all of the hysteria, all of the fear, all of the phony science, could it be that man-made global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people? It sure sounds like it. 12/28/2003 President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans And to heal the planet My promise is to help you and your family. 8/30/2012 More droughts and floods and wildfires are not a joke.my plan will continue to reduce the carbon pollution that is heating our planet. Because climate change is not a hoax. 9/6/2012 4
Climate change issues, as a grave challenge to the sustainable development of the human society, have received ever greater attention from the international community. Deeply cognizant of the complexity and extensive influence of these issues and fully aware of the arduousness and urgency of the task of addressing climate change, the Chinese government is determined to address climate change in the process of pursuing sustainable development. 11/2009 Developed countries must take responsibility for their historical cumulative emissions and current high per capita emissions to change their unsustainable way of life and to substantially reduce their emissions and, at the same time, to provide financial support and transfer technology to developing countries. 12/2009 China and the United States Source: The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) 5
China and the United States Source: The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) and World Bank 6
Our Survey How much do people know about global warming? Is global warming happening? Is it anthropogenic? What does science say? What should we do? China and the U.S. Yale/George Mason Project on Climate Change Communication* Our Sample 826 college students from four sites in U.S. Arkansas, California, New York, Wisconsin 776 college students from four sites in China Guangdong, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Shaanxi 1,602 total respondents Convenience sample Sample size varies due to non-response on some questions 7
Results χ 2 = 48.61/ p<0.01 χ 2 = 88.55/ p<0.01 8
χ 2 = 158.90/ p<0.01 χ 2 = 48.61/ p<0.01 9
Economy: χ 2 = 127.79/ p<0.01 Environment: χ 2 = 52.74/ p<0.01 χ 2 = 240.85/ p<0.01 χ 2 = 442.26/ p<0.01 10
χ 2 = 61.41/ p<0.01 χ 2 = 42.45/ p<0.01 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Re-Cap Just over 75% of U.S. students believe that GW/CC is happening compared to over 85% of Chinese students This difference emerges because of a higher degree of uncertainty among U.S. students U.S. students are less likely than Chinese students to believe that human activities are the primary cause of GW/CC 11
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Re-Cap Only about half of U.S. students believe there is consensus among scientists that GW/CC is happening compared to nearly three-quarters of Chinese students Only about 40% of U.S. students believe there is consensus among scientists that GW/CC is primarily caused by human activities compared to nearly 70% of Chinese students In terms of issues for the government to focus on, U.S. students feel the economy is more important than the environment, whereas Chinese students place nearly equal importance on the economy and environment University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Re-Cap U.S. college students are less familiar with both national and international polices to address GW/CC compared to Chinese students. It is striking that 70.3% of U.S. students report being not at all or not very familiar with international policies. U.S. college students say GW/CC is less important and they think about it less often compared to Chinese college students. Why? 12