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Predictors of public climate change awareness and risk perception around the world

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  • Tien Ming Lee

    (Earth Institute, Evolution and Environmental Biology, and Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, Columbia University
    Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University
    Present address: Program in Science, Technology and Environmental Policy, Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.)

  • Ezra M. Markowitz

    (Earth Institute and Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, Columbia University
    Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, Princeton University
    University of Massachusetts)

  • Peter D. Howe

    (Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University
    Utah State University)

  • Chia-Ying Ko

    (Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University
    Yale University
    Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica)

  • Anthony A. Leiserowitz

    (Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University)

Abstract

Climate change is a threat to human societies and natural ecosystems, yet public opinion research finds that public awareness and concern vary greatly. Here, using an unprecedented survey of 119 countries, we determine the relative influence of socio-demographic characteristics, geography, perceived well-being, and beliefs on public climate change awareness and risk perceptions at national scales. Worldwide, educational attainment is the single strongest predictor of climate change awareness. Understanding the anthropogenic cause of climate change is the strongest predictor of climate change risk perceptions, particularly in Latin America and Europe, whereas perception of local temperature change is the strongest predictor in many African and Asian countries. However, other key factors associated with public awareness and risk perceptions highlight the need to develop tailored climate communication strategies for individual nations. The results suggest that improving basic education, climate literacy, and public understanding of the local dimensions of climate change are vital to public engagement and support for climate action.

Suggested Citation

  • Tien Ming Lee & Ezra M. Markowitz & Peter D. Howe & Chia-Ying Ko & Anthony A. Leiserowitz, 2015. "Predictors of public climate change awareness and risk perception around the world," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(11), pages 1014-1020, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:5:y:2015:i:11:d:10.1038_nclimate2728
    DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2728
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