© 2012 Cardiff Scientific Society

Abstract

 

Climate change is an issue which politicians and scientists tell us demands action at all levels of society. Yet while the public knows about climate change and most express concern about it, few are taking action to tackle it and a sizeable minority remain sceptical about the need for action at all. What factors influence perceptions of the issue? What roles do experience, language, values, norms and context play? And how do news events and personal experiences shape how we see it? This lecture uses psychological theories and studies of public engagement to examine how and why we respond to climate change in the ways we do, and how we might design more effective ways of engaging the public in tackling the issue.

The Psychology of Climate Change: How can we involve the Public?

 

Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh PhD

School of Psychology, Cardiff University

Professor of Space Physics, Imperial College, London