Abstract
In this perspectives brief, author Larry Hamilton summarizes his research on public perceptions of climate change, drawing on a decade of nationwide and New Hampshire surveys.
He reports that public awareness of human-caused climate change rose slowly over the past decade, showing no sudden jumps after climate-related events such as major storms. Awareness rose twice as fast among members of Generation Z compared with older generations, although increases occurred within each of those generations too. Faster change among young adults fits with other research showing people at that life stage tend to be more active in updating their beliefs with new information, rather than relying on settled dispositions.
In conclusion, he cautions that proposed legislation that would discourage young adults or college students from voting has implications for climate change, as for many other things.
Department
Carsey School of Public Policy
Publication Date
Spring 4-22-2021
Series
Carsey Perspectives brief
Publisher
Durham, N.H. : Carsey School of Public Policy, University of New Hampshire
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Hamilton, Lawrence C., "The Slow Dawn of Climate-Change Awareness, and Its Challenge for a Sustainable Planet" (2021). The Carsey School of Public Policy at the Scholars' Repository. 428.
https://scholars.unh.edu/carsey/428
Rights
Copyright 2021. Carsey School of Public Policy. These materials may be used for the purposes of research, teaching, and private study. For all other uses, contact the copyright holder.
DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.34051/p/2021.19