Most people now believe that the consequences of climate change are beginning to emerge.
[ad_1]
First, they analyzed data from 27 opinion polls around the world – including data from China, the US, the UK, Australia and the European Union. It turns out that most people are seeing the effects of climate change. This has not come to the fore in recent figures only.
In the midst of ongoing debate and discussion about climate change, it is now coming to the fore from studies that it is really starting to show its effect. The researchers systematically reviewed the available evidence to investigate climate change. First, they analyzed data from 27 opinion polls around the world – including data from China, the US, the UK, Australia and the European Union. It turns out that most people are seeing the effects of climate change. This has not come to the fore in recent figures only.
As far back as 1997, data indicated that nearly half of American respondents believed that climate change was already happening. The opposite has been observed in some studies. Those who saw climate change as affecting people in distant places came forward to support climate action. However the evidence for the idea that psychological differences are holding us back from climate action is mixed. After examining thirty studies, the team found little evidence that experiments aimed at changing people’s perception of climate change actually increase their climate response.
How should we communicate about climate? Climate communication strategies and guidelines from various organizations have emphasized the idea that climate change is not a psychological phenomenon. Our own ‘Australian Psychological Society’ recommends reducing the psychological impact by overestimating the local effects of climate change. For example, highlighting an increase in the number of days of extreme heat in one’s town or region. But if the aim here is to spur climate action, is it good advice?
I’ve often brought up the idea of psychological impact in conversations, and talked about it with journalists, because it can be a better way to reach people. Our efforts are to ensure climate action and increase public confidence. This means that pro-environmental actions such as reducing the number of vehicles or consuming more plant-based foods need to be made easier and cheaper. But it also highlights the need for structural and social changes that encourage behavioral change.
Efforts should be made from providing subsidies for electric vehicles or renewable energy installations to international agreements on carbon emissions. There is also a need to remind people of their moral imperative. There is no doubt that climate change is becoming more “real” and of greater concern to most of us. From 2018 to 2022, the number of Australians who are “very concerned” about climate change has almost doubled, from 24 per cent to 42 per cent. But does explaining this change as a reduction in psychological distance add anything to our scientific understanding? We know climate change is affecting polar bears, but we also know it’s affecting us right now. Our efforts must now be focused on changing behavior at both the societal and individual levels.
Disclaimer:IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.
[ad_2]
Source link
