International trends in public perceptions of climate change over the past quarter century

Stuart Capstick; Lorraine Whitmarsh; Wouter Poortinga; Nick Pidgeon; Paul Upham

doi:10.1002/wcc.321

journal article Open Access Nov 12, 2014

International trends in public perceptions of climate change over the past quarter century

Stuart Capstick Lorraine Whitmarsh

Wouter Poortinga

Nick Pidgeon Paul Upham

WIREs Climate Change Vol. 6 No. 1 pp. 35-61 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/wcc.321

Abstract

Public perceptions of climate change are known to differ between nations and to have fluctuated over time. Numerous plausible characterizations of these variations, and explanations for them, are to be found in the literature. However, a clear picture has not yet emerged as to the principal trends and patterns that have occurred over the past quarter‐century or the factors behind these changes. This systematic review considers previous empirical research that has addressed the temporal aspects to public perceptions. We address findings that have been obtained since the 1980s and using a range of methodologies. In this review, we consider early, seminal work examining public perceptions; survey studies carried out over long timescales and at an international scale; detailed statistical analyses of the drivers of changing perceptions; and qualitative research featuring a longitudinal component. Studies point to growing skepticism in the latter 2000s in some developed countries, underpinned by economic and sociopolitical factors. Even so, in many parts of the world, there has been growing concern about climate change in recent years. We conclude that the imbalance in the literature toward polling data, and toward studies of public perceptions in Western nations (particularly the United States), leaves much unknown about the progression of public understanding of climate change worldwide. More research is required that uses inferential statistical procedures to understand the reasons behind trends in public perceptions. The application of qualitative longitudinal methodologies also offers the potential for better appreciation of the cultural contexts in which climate change perceptions are evolving. WIREs Clim Change 2015, 6:35–61. doi: 10.1002/wcc.321This article is categorized under:

Perceptions, Behavior, and Communication of Climate Change > Communication
Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Knowledge and Practice

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Citations

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References

Details

Published: Nov 12, 2014
Vol/Issue: 6(1)
Pages: 35-61
License: View

Authors

S

Stuart Capstick

School of Psychology Cardiff University Cardiff UK; Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research; Climate Change Consortium of Wales

L

Lorraine Whitmarsh

School of Psychology Cardiff University Cardiff UK; Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research

W

Wouter Poortinga

School of Psychology Cardiff University Cardiff UK; Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research

N

Nick Pidgeon

School of Psychology Cardiff University Cardiff UK; Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research; Climate Change Consortium of Wales

P

Paul Upham

Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research; Centre for Integrated Energy Research University of Leeds Leeds UK

Funding

Economic and Social Research Council Award: RES-066-27-0013

Cite This Article

Stuart Capstick, Lorraine Whitmarsh, Wouter Poortinga, et al. (2014). International trends in public perceptions of climate change over the past quarter century. WIREs Climate Change, 6(1), 35-61. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.321

International trends in public perceptions of climate change over the past quarter century

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