Confidence in Local, National, and International Scientists on Climate Change
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A
Appendix A.1. List of News Reports and Sources
- Rising temperatures and the resulting drought are causing trees in the West to die at more than twice the pace they did a few decades ago, a new study by a research team at [SOURCE] has found. The combination of temperature and drought has also reduced the ability of the forests to absorb carbon dioxide, which traps heat and thus contributes to global warming, the authors of the study said, and have made forests sparser and more susceptible to fires and pests [50].
- Power plants across the country are at increased risk of temporary shutdowns and reduced generation as temperatures and sea levels and rise and water becomes less available, a new report from [SOURCE] warns. By 2030, there will be nearly $1 trillion in energy assets in the Gulf Coast region alone at risk from increasingly costly extreme hurricanes and sea levels rises [51].
- The nation’s entire energy system is vulnerable to increasingly severe and costly weather events driven by climate change, according to a new report from [SOURCE]. The blackouts and other energy disruptions of Hurricane Sandy were just a foretaste, the report says. Every corner of the country’s energy infrastructure—Oil wells, hydroelectric dams, nuclear power plants—Will be stressed in coming years by more intense storms, rising seas, higher temperatures and more frequent droughts [52].
- Warming air from climate isn’t the only thing that will speed melting near the poles—So will the warming water beneath the ice, a new study from [SOURCE] says. In a new report, researchers say warming oceans could mean polar ice is melting faster than had been expected. One coauthor said, “This paper adds to the evidence that we could have sea level rise by the end of this century of around 1 m” [53].
- New research from [SOURCE] suggests that global warming is causing the cycle of evaporation and rainfall over the oceans to intensify more than scientists had expected, an ominous finding that may indicate a higher potential for extreme weather in coming decades. By measuring changes in salinity on the ocean’s surface, the researchers inferred that the water cycle had accelerated by about 4 percent over the last half century. If the estimate holds up, it implies that the water cycle could quicken by as much as 20 percent later in this century as the planet warms, potentially leading to more droughts and floods [54].
- Climate change could result in decreasing yields of staple food crops in most parts of the world from the 2030s onwards. A research team from [SOURCE] compared the results of more than 1700 simulations of climate change impacts on annual wheat, race, and maize (corn) yields. The data suggest that, without adaptation, average food-crop supplies will decline by about 5% per degree of Celsius warming [55].
- Finally, some good news about the effects of climate change, according to a study from [SOURCE]. It may have triggered a growth spurt in two of California’s iconic tree species: coast redwoods and giant sequoias. Since the 1970s, some coast redwoods have grown at the fastest rate ever, according to scientists who studied corings from trees more than 1000 years old [56].
- Reduced sea-ice extent and thickness would increase the seasonal duration of polar navigation on rivers and in coastal areas that are presently affected by seasonal ice cover, according to a study by [SOURCE]. Improved opportunities for water transport, tourism, and trade at high latitudes are expected as a result. These activities will have important implications for the people, economies, and navies of nations along the Arctic rim. Reduced sea ice will provide safer approaches for tourist ships and new opportunities for sightseeing around Antarctica and the Arctic [57].
Appendix A.2. Questions Asked Following Each Article
- How much confidence do you have that these scientists are right—A great deal of confidence, a good deal of confidence, some confidence, not much confidence, or none at all.
- How likely do you think it is that the changes described in this study will ever affect you—Highly likely, somewhat likely, fairly likely, or not likely at all?
- How likely do you think it is that the changes described in this study will ever affect members of your family—Highly likely, somewhat likely, fairly likely, or not likely at all?
- In your judgment, how likely is it that the problem described in this study will have substantial impacts on our society—Highly likely, somewhat likely, fairly likely, or not likely at all?
Appendix A.3. Additional Questions Included in the Questionnaire
- Here are a few questions about the government in Washington. Many people don’t know the answers to these questions, so if there are some you don’t know, just skip them.
- Do you happen to know what job or political office is now held by Joseph Biden?
- (a)
- U.S. Vice President
- (b)
- Other
- (c)
- Don’t know
- Whose responsibility is it to determine if a law is constitutional or not is it the President, the Congress, or the Supreme Court?
- (a)
- President
- (b)
- Congress
- (c)
- Supreme Court
- (d)
- Don’t know
- How much of a majority is required for the U.S. Senate and House to override a presidential veto?
- (a)
- Simple Majority
- (b)
- Two-thirds
- (c)
- Other
- (d)
- Don’t know
- Do you happen to know which party has the most members in the House of Representatives right now?
- (a)
- Democratic Party
- (b)
- Republican Party
- (c)
- Don’t know
- Would you say that one of the parties is more conservative than the other at the national level?
- (a)
- Yes
- (b)
- No
- (c)
- Don’t know
- Which party is more conservative?
- (a)
- Democratic Party
- (b)
- Republican Party
- (c)
- No Opinion
- How do often do you pray by yourself?
- (a)
- More than once a day
- (b)
- Once a day
- (c)
- More than once a week
- (d)
- Once a week
- (e)
- Every so often
- (f)
- Never
- (g)
- Don’t know
- About how often would you say that you attend religious services?
- (a)
- More often than once a week
- (b)
- Every week
- (c)
- Almost every week
- (d)
- Once or twice a month
- (e)
- A few times a year
- (f)
- Never
- (g)
- Don’t know
- Which of these statements comes closest to describing your feelings about the Bible?
- (a)
- The Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word
- (b)
- The Bible is the word of God, but not everything in it should be taken literally, word for word
- (c)
- The Bible is a book written by men and is not the word of God
- (d)
- Other (specify): _____________________
- (e)
- Don’t know
- In what year where you born?
- How would you describe where you live?
- (a)
- Big city
- (b)
- Small city
- (c)
- Suburb
- (d)
- Small town
- (e)
- Rural area
- What is the highest year of school that you have finished and gotten credit for?
- (a)
- Less than a high school degree
- (b)
- High School Graduate
- (c)
- Trade/Vocational School
- (d)
- 1–2 Years of College
- (e)
- 3–4 Years of College/Did not Graduate
- (f)
- College Graduate
- (g)
- 5–6 Years of College
- (h)
- Master’s Degree
- (i)
- Graduate work past Master’s Degree
- Do you have any children or teens, under age 18, living with you in your household?
- (a)
- Yes
- (b)
- No
- Do you have any children or teens, under age 18, who do not live with you in your household?
- (a)
- Yes
- (b)
- No
- Do you have any children who are 18 or older?
- (a)
- Yes
- (b)
- No
- Generally speaking, in politics do you consider yourself to be politically:
- (a)
- Very liberal
- (b)
- Somewhat liberal
- (c)
- Middle-of-the-Road
- (d)
- Somewhat conservative
- (e)
- Very conservative
- (f)
- Don’t Think of Myself in these Terms
- Generally speaking, how do you usually think of yourself in relation to political parties?
- (a)
- Strong Republican
- (b)
- Weak Republican
- (c)
- Independent, leaning toward the Republican Party
- (d)
- Pure Independent
- (e)
- Independent, leaving toward the Democratic Party
- (f)
- Weak Democrat
- (g)
- Strong Democrat
- (h)
- Other Party: ______________
- Do you happen to be of Hispanic, Spanish, or Mexican descent?
- (a)
- Yes
- (b)
- No
- For classification purposes, we’d like to know what your racial background is. Are you White, Black or African-American, Asian, or are you a member of another race? [Multiple Categories permitted.]
- (a)
- White/Caucasian
- (b)
- Black/African American
- (c)
- Asian/Pacific Islander
- (d)
- Other
- (e)
- Refused
- Would you tell us which category your annual household income before taxes falls into:
- (a)
- Under $20,000
- (b)
- $20,000 to $40,000
- (c)
- $40,000 to $60,000
- (d)
- $60,000 to $80,000
- (e)
- $80,000 to $100,000
- (f)
- $100,000 to $125,000
- (g)
- $125,000 to $150,000
- (h)
- More than $150,000
- (i)
- Refused
- What is your gender?
- (a)
- Male
- (b)
- Female
- For statistical purposes only: what is your zip code?
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Sparks, A.C.; Hodges, H.; Oliver, S.; Smith, E.R.A.N. Confidence in Local, National, and International Scientists on Climate Change. Sustainability 2021, 13, 272. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010272
Sparks AC, Hodges H, Oliver S, Smith ERAN. Confidence in Local, National, and International Scientists on Climate Change. Sustainability. 2021; 13(1):272. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010272
Chicago/Turabian StyleSparks, Aaron C., Heather Hodges, Sarah Oliver, and Eric R. A. N. Smith. 2021. "Confidence in Local, National, and International Scientists on Climate Change" Sustainability 13, no. 1: 272. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010272