Climate Tipping Points and Climate Anxiety, How News About Climate Tipping Points Influences Public Opinion

• In Event: Environmental Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 18: Climate Emotions & Psychological Responses

Abstract

What are the effects of the communication pertaining to climate “tipping points” on public opinions about climate change, specifically the effects on hopelessness and cynicism relative to these “tipping points”? This research program aims to investigate this in order to understand how the portrayal of these “tipping points” to the general public impacts policy action and general public opinion. More importantly, I aim to glean insight into how this form of scientific communication either helps or hinders the general public in understanding climate tipping points and influencing emotional outcomes related to climate anxiety. This paper more broadly also aims to evaluate how scientific findings are communicated to the general public. This paper is not a critique of the science behind tipping points themselves, but rather a critique of how these findings are shared.

Author

• Aidan Andronicos, University of Washington