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Partisan asymmetry in temporal stability of climate change beliefs

Author

Listed:
  • Hank C. Jenkins-Smith

    (University of Oklahoma
    National Institute for Risk and Resilience, University of Oklahoma
    University of Oklahoma)

  • Joseph T. Ripberger

    (University of Oklahoma
    National Institute for Risk and Resilience, University of Oklahoma
    University of Oklahoma)

  • Carol L. Silva

    (University of Oklahoma
    National Institute for Risk and Resilience, University of Oklahoma
    University of Oklahoma)

  • Deven E. Carlson

    (University of Oklahoma
    National Institute for Risk and Resilience, University of Oklahoma
    University of Oklahoma)

  • Kuhika Gupta

    (University of Oklahoma
    National Institute for Risk and Resilience, University of Oklahoma)

  • Nina Carlson

    (University of Oklahoma
    National Institute for Risk and Resilience, University of Oklahoma)

  • Ani Ter-Mkrtchyan

    (University of Oklahoma
    National Institute for Risk and Resilience, University of Oklahoma
    University of Oklahoma)

  • Riley E. Dunlap

    (Oklahoma State University)

Abstract

Existing literature on climate change beliefs in the US suggests that partisan polarization begets climate change polarization and that the climate beliefs of those on both sides of the partisan divide are firmly held and invariable. Here, we use data from a large panel survey of Oklahoma residents administered quarterly from 2014 through 2018 to challenge this perspective. Contrary to the expectation of rough symmetry in partisan polarization on climate change, we find that partisans on the political right have much more unstable beliefs about climate change than partisans on the left. An important implication is that if climate beliefs are well anchored on the left, but less so on the right, the latter are more susceptible to change. We interpret this to suggest that, despite polarizing elite rhetoric, public beliefs about climate change maintain the potential to shift towards broader acceptance and a perceived need for action.

Suggested Citation

  • Hank C. Jenkins-Smith & Joseph T. Ripberger & Carol L. Silva & Deven E. Carlson & Kuhika Gupta & Nina Carlson & Ani Ter-Mkrtchyan & Riley E. Dunlap, 2020. "Partisan asymmetry in temporal stability of climate change beliefs," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(4), pages 322-328, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0719-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0719-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Drews, Stefan & Savin, Ivan & van den Bergh, Jeroen C.J.M. & Villamayor-Tomás, Sergio, 2022. "Climate concern and policy acceptance before and after COVID-19," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    2. Wanyun Shao & Hamed Moftakhari & Hamid Moradkhani, 2020. "Comparing public perceptions of sea level rise with scientific projections across five states of the U.S. Gulf Coast region," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 317-335, November.
    3. Tiffany H. Morrison & W. Neil Adger & Arun Agrawal & Katrina Brown & Matthew J. Hornsey & Terry P. Hughes & Meha Jain & Maria Carmen Lemos & Lucy Holmes McHugh & Saffron O’Neill & Derek Berkel, 2022. "Radical interventions for climate-impacted systems," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(12), pages 1100-1106, December.
    4. Matthew T. Ballew & Jennifer R. Marlon & Matthew H. Goldberg & Edward W. Maibach & Seth A. Rosenthal & Emily Aiken & Anthony Leiserowitz, 2022. "Changing minds about global warming: vicarious experience predicts self-reported opinion change in the USA," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 173(3), pages 1-25, August.
    5. Dylan Bugden, 2022. "Denial and distrust: explaining the partisan climate gap," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 170(3), pages 1-23, February.
    6. Willian Sierra-Barón & Oscar Navarro & Diana Katherine Amézquita Naranjo & Eylyn Daniela Teres Sierra & Carol Marcela Narváez González, 2021. "Beliefs about Climate Change and Their Relationship with Environmental Beliefs and Sustainable Behavior: A View from Rural Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, May.

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