Re-run: 'Climate Change in the American Mind'

Jul 30, 2024

This discussion delves into the alarming rise in global temperatures and the polarized political climate surrounding climate change. It highlights Yale's surveys revealing public attitudes toward climate, exposing significant divides. Additionally, it examines the Biden administration's communication struggles regarding the Inflation Reduction Act and the impact of misinformation on renewable energy efforts. Attention is also given to the need for a just transition for workers in the shift to a green economy and the importance of qualitative research in understanding climate challenges.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 3min

Understanding Human Geography and Climate Perception

02:53 • 20min

Climate Change: Politics and Public Perception

23:04 • 20min

Navigating Communication Challenges of Climate Policies

42:48 • 3min

Navigating the Transition to a Green Economy and Its Impact on Workers

45:53 • 3min

The Importance of Qualitative Research in Climate Action

48:43 • 3min

Engaging Public Opinion on Climate Action

52:12 • 2min

So far this summer, politics has dominated the news. Which makes sense – it’s a presidential election year after all.

But climate change and its effects haven’t gone anywhere and are getting worse. Just last week, Europe’s climate change service Copernicus announced that Earth hit the hottest temperature ever recorded for two consecutive days.

The same service also said we’ve lived through more than a year now of record-breaking temperatures.

During the June presidential debate, climate change did take center stage – but only for a moment. CNN moderators asked former President Donald Trump what he would do, if re-elected, to slow the climate crisis. His answer deviated quickly to other topics.

For his part, President Joe Biden – who has since announced he’s leaving the race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris – played up his landmark Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in clean energy and climate action in U.S. history.

But where is the American public in all this?

How worried, frustrated, or hopeful are people feeling about global warming? And how do those sentiments compare to other countries around the world?

This week we return to a conversation from last fall, when host Bill Loveless talked with Anthony Leiserowitz about Yale’s Climate Change in the American Mind surveys, and what they reveal about public opinion around climate change both here in the U.S. and around the world. They also discussed the current discourse in American politics, and how attitudes differ among registered voters.

Anthony is the founder and director of the Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication, and a senior research scientist at the Yale School of the Environment. He has worked with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the National Academy of Sciences, the World Economic Forum, and many other major organizations to understand the psychological, cultural, and political factors that shape climate change beliefs. Anthony also hosts "Climate Connections," a daily 90-second podcast about the climate crisis.

Since Bill’s interview, Anthony’s program at Yale has released its Spring 2024 Climate Change in the American Mind survey results for Beliefs & Attitudes and Politics & Policy.