Abstract

Scientists know that human activities, primarily fossil fuel combustion, are causing Earth’s temperature to increase. Yet in 2021, only 60% of the US population understood that human activities are the primary cause of global warming. We experimentally test whether information about the human causes of global warming influences Americans’ beliefs and concerns about global warming and support for climate policies. We find that communicating information about the human-causes of global warming increases public understanding that global warming is human-caused. This information, both alone and with additional information about climate impacts and policy solutions, also increases public concern about global warming and support for climate policies, although the effects on climate concern and policy support are smaller. Importantly, the treatment effects are consistent across political party, with no backlash effects among Republicans. This suggests that when informed about climate change causes, impacts and solutions, most Americans can update their own climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, and policy support.

摘要

科学家们知道，人类活动，主要是化石燃料的燃烧，正在导致地球温度升高。然而到 2021 年，只有 60% 的美国人口明白人类活动是全球变暖的主要原因。我们通过实验测试有关全球变暖的人为原因的信息是否会影响美国人对全球变暖的信念和担忧以及对气候政策的支持。我们发现，交流有关全球变暖的人为原因的信息会增加公众对全球变暖是人为原因的理解。这些信息，无论是单独的还是与气候影响和政策解决方案的附加信息一起，也增加了公众对全球变暖的关注和对气候政策的支持，尽管对气候关注和政策支持的影响较小。重要的，整个政党的治疗效果是一致的，在共和党人中没有反弹效果。这表明，当了解气候变化的原因、影响和解决方案时，大多数美国人可以更新自己的气候变化信念、风险认知和政策支持。