Pro-environmental behaviors of climate skeptics: do beliefs matter? A study of the dry tropics, Australia

Meryl Pearce, Lynne Eagle, David Low, Andrea Schurmann

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference Paper published in Proceedingspeer-review

Abstract

Despite the increasing certainty and acceptance of anthropogenic climate change in scientific and political arenas, skepticism about climate change persists in the general population. This study examines the climate change perceptions, attitudes and knowledge of residents of the dry tropics, north Queensland during a period of severe drought. Concern about climate change is ranked against other threats to the community, and their willingness and ability to reduce the perceived threat of climate change is assessed in relation to their beliefs. The results show that skeptics and climate-concerned individuals have similar levels of environmental knowledge and, despite their differing views on climate change, engage in pro-environmental behaviors such as switching lights off when not needed, installing environmentally friendly light bulbs, using a car less often, saving water and recycling. The beliefs and behaviors of climate skeptics have implications for behavioral change strategies directed at climate change--these are briefly outlined.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 7th International Conference on Climate Changes, Global Warming, Biological Problems (CGB '15)
Place of PublicationSeoul, Korea
PublisherWorld Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society
Pages50-56
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-61804-332-0
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event7th International Conference on Climate Changes, Global Warming, Biological Problems (CGB) - Seoul, Korea, Republic of
Duration: 5 Sept 20157 Sept 2015

Publication series

NameEnergy, Environmental and Structural Engineering Series
PublisherWorld Scientific and Engineering Academy and Society Press
ISSN (Electronic)2227-4359

Conference

Conference7th International Conference on Climate Changes, Global Warming, Biological Problems (CGB)
Country/TerritoryKorea, Republic of
CitySeoul
Period5/09/157/09/15

Bibliographical note

Freely available from publisher website.

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