Public Opinion and Participation in the Climate Change Debate
Public opinion about climate change, observes the New York Times’ Andrew Revkin, can be compared to “waves in a shallow pan,” easily tipped with “a lot of sloshing but not a lot of depth.” In a recently published chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Climate Change and Society, I review research that provides several explanations...
Peak Oil Perceptions: How Americans View the Risks of a Major Spike in Oil Prices
A strong majority of Americans say it is likely that oil prices will triple in the coming five years and that such a tripling would be harmful both to the economy and to public health. Conservatives and those dismissive of climate change are among the most concerned by the threat of a major spike in...
Risk Communication Expert David Ropeik Launches New Blog “Risk: Reason and Reality” at Big Think
David Ropeik, a leading expert in risk communication, has joined Big Think as a regular blogger. Among his inaugural posts at “Risk: Reason and Reality,” Ropeik discusses a fascinating new study on city living and stress (see also spotlight at The Economist) and the risks of organic foods. Ropeik, is an Instructor at Harvard, consultant...
Studies by Faculty Fellow Sol Hart and Colleagues Examine Environmental Values, the Framing of Climate Change, and Energy Use
This spring, Climate Shift faculty fellow Sol Hart has published three studies with colleagues examining how environmental values, framing and perceptions of fairness shape policy preferences, views on climate change and support for university-based energy initiatives respectively. The articles with their abstracts are below and you can contact Professor Hart to request PDF copies if...
