Understanding public complacency about climate change: adults’ mental models of climate change violate conservation of matter

• Published in: Climatic change Vol. 80; no. 3-4; pp. 213 - 238
• Main Authors: Sterman, John D., Sweeney, Linda Booth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.02.2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Applied sciences; Atmosphere; Atmospheric pollution; Attitudes; Climate change; Climate change models; Climatology. Bioclimatology. Climate change; Earth, ocean, space; Emission standards; Emissions; Emissions control; Environmental impact; Environmental protection; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; International agreements; Meteorology; Overflow; Pollution; Prevention and purification methods; Public opinion; Public policy; Sea level; United States > US; Attitude; Pollution control; Risk perception; Comprehension; troposphere; Information dissemination; Overflow; greenhouse gas; Dynamical climatology; human ecology; climate modification; global change; warming; Air pollution; Pollution abatement; Public opinion; Anthropogenic factor

Public attitudes about climate change reveal a contradiction. Surveys show most Americans believe climate change poses serious risks but also that reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions sufficient to stabilize atmospheric GHG concentrations can be deferred until there is greater evidence that...