Public Opinion Archives - Page 2 of 7

Communications medley: Survey roundup and framing tips

Posted by Bill Mott on April 25, 2014

In this week’s round up: How millennials are thinking about transportation, Americans view environment more important than growth, and the impacts of recent weather events on public perception of climate change. If you’re a science communicator or educator at an informal science center (such as a zoo, aquarium, or museum) trying to understand the perspectives of your audience and find ways to promote conservation action – this is the round up for you! Every week we break down the most interesting recent news and best resources to help you frame the issues as effectively as possible. Some of these resources will be practical communications and framing tips, and others are great starting points for brainstorming future strategies. Jump to… Survey roundup: Protecting our environment and climate change threats Communicating climate change: What to say and what not to! Today's surveys: Protecting our environment and climate change threats Many around the world see climate change as a major threat - This 39-nation survey conducted by Pew Research Center dives into the question of whether or not individuals view climate change as a threat to their country. Did they survey your country? If so, what are the results and what can you do to make a difference? Americans want government action to protect the environment - According to a recent survey by Yale, American's do want their government to protect the environment. But, depending on what they want you to protect the environment from, well, that depends. Check out the link for additional info. Communicating climate change: What to say and what not to! Climate change communication: Key psychological research findings - This two-part report takes an interesting exploration into some of the psychological barriers we face when trying to engage the public in climate change discussions. The results are fascinating. 13 useful tips for climate action from the IPCC Report - More than likely you're aware that the IPCC has released another climate change report. Just as likely, you probably haven't read the massive document. This summary shares 13 important, actionable tips that you can incorporate into your programs today. Can empathy help stop climate change? - Ever wonder why it doesn't work very effectively to tell people that climate change is a major threat to humans? Well, this article takes a look at some alternative ways to get the public to acknowledge climate change is indeed a threat not only to our lives, but to wildlife as well. Don't give up on engaging conservatives - Have you ever experienced the difficulties of communicating climate change to conservative? I know I have! This article takes an interesting look at different ways to engage conservatives in climate change discourse.

Aquariums, Polling and Public Opinion, Strategic Communication

Communications medley: Looking at numbers and what it takes

Posted by Bill Mott on March 21, 2014

In this week’s round up: Public perspectives on climate change and thoughts on what stimulates social change, If you’re a science communicator or educator at an informal science center (such as a zoo, aquarium, or museum) trying to understand the perspectives of your audience and find ways to promote conservation action – this is the round up for you! Every week we break down the most interesting recent news and best resources to help you frame the issues as effectively as possible. Some of these resources will be practical communications and framing tips, and others are great starting points for brainstorming future strategies. Jump to… The stats What motivates change The stats 80% of Europeans Agree Tackling Climate Change Boosts Economic Growth – according to a new Eurobarometer opinion poll 4 out of 5 European Union citizens believe that mitigating climate change and increasing energy efficiency can boost the economy and employment. A Steady 57% in U.S. Blame Humans for Global Warming – according to a fresh Gallup poll which tracks American’s views on climate change, more Americans believe the increase in Earth’s temperature over the recent decades is a result of human pollution, not natural causes. Americans Most Likely to Say Global Warming Is Exaggerated – although most American’s believe that global warming is happening, they also believe that the news is responsible for over exaggerating the impacts that climate change is having on the Earth Emerging Economies Lead Climate Action, Globe Study Finds – A Globe International study investigating which countries lead in fighting climate change shows that emerging economies are at the front of the pack for establishing ambitious policies. What motivates change? How Ultra-Conservative Utah Became An Unlikely Bastion Of Environmental Activism – One might not expect the citizens of Utah to be the most environmentally active population in the United States. However, growing recognition for the need to protect the environment has been sparked by the unpleasant impact of air pollution, which causes immediate short term effects for Utah residents. What Moves Americans to Support Social Change? – A recently released report by ecoAmerica dives into in investigation of what moves American’s to support social change by looking at recent successful social movements. The report identifies four synergistic stages that were fundamental for each campaign.

Blog Posts

Communications medley: climate story-time

Posted by Bill Mott on January 24, 2014

In this week’s round up: climate story-time in America,…

Blog Posts

Communications medley: Audience insights from a proliferation of polls

Posted by Bill Mott on November 8, 2013

In this week’s round up: masses of info about…

Blog Posts

Weekly Round Up: Bringing morals and human rights into the picture

Posted by Bill Mott on August 2, 2013

In the round up this week: Moral arguments sway public opinions, bringing human rights into the story to make a big impact, and polls reveal shifting political views of Americans. If you’re a science communicator or educator at an informal science center (such as a zoo, aquarium, or museum) trying to encourage conservation action – this is the round up for you! Every week we break down the most interesting recent news and best resources to help you frame the issues as effectively as possible. Use Moral Argument to Sway Public Opinion Human rights + ecological controversy = impactful story Climate change in politics: Let the polls speak for themselves More useful resources Climate action: it's not just rational, it's ethical As we’ve discussed in previous blog posts, there are many factors that influence one’s opinion about climate change. There is mounting evidence that making a moral argument in favor of acting to slow and mitigate climate change is one of the most effective strategies to make a lasting impact on public opinion. This summer’s Environmental Polling Trends report, released by ecoAmerica, supports that opinions are swaying, showing that most US citizens are concerned about climate change and they want to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Another major finding from this poll is that moral arguments seem to have the most support (93%) in swaying public opinion. Though, one blogger for The Guardian Professional points out the moral arguments are missing from the behavior change debates. The Guardian’s Adam Corner writes, “Ultimately, it is morals and values, not facts and figures, that inspire public support for policies, and transformative behavioral changes will not follow from superficial methods of engagement.” Corner suggests that we concentrate on “re-connecting with a straight¬for¬ward idea: that morally, confronting climate change is simply the right thing to do.” Human rights + ecological controversy = impactful story Here’s a framing tip: if it’s bad for the animals and it’s bad for humans, the story is sure to make an impact. The palm oil industry has been contributing to documented habitat devastation for animals such as the orangutans for years, but we are also learning about the not-so-well-documented human-rights abuses of the industry. The shared plight of orangutans and people make this story hard to ignore. Climate change in politics: Let the polls speak for themselves Public opinion about climate change in America has a history of changing like the weather, but it looks like the winds might be shifting in favor of action. In the United States, a nationwide poll shows that the majority supports President Obama’s new plan to address climate change and cut carbon emissions in the US. It looks like young voters are not only in support of Obama’s plan, but would oppose members of Congress who stood in the way of the president’s climate action plan. According to a poll of US voters under age 35, it is widely believed that “denying climate change signals a much broader failure of values and leadership,” noted in the polling memo. Many young voters (including young Republicans) would write climate misinforming candidates off completely, with 37 percent describing climate change deniers as "ignorant," 29 percent as "out of touch" and 7 percent simply as "crazy. More useful resources Do you live in one of these states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Vermont? Environment America has deemed them the “Dazzling Dozen,” with the highest per capita solar electricity capacity in U.S. Be sure to share success stories like this with visitors to show them what’s being done in their community, and how it’s good for the environment and people. For those other 38 states catching up in the renewable energy boom, it may help to show others why clean energy is such a great investment; wind and solar can prevent more pollution and actually save lives.

Blog Posts, Climate Change, Strategic Communication