Consensus and contrarianism on climate change: How the USA case informs dynamics elsewhere

Authors

  • Maxwell Boykoff Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES).

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.6.4182

Keywords:

consensus, skepticism, contrarianism, climate change, public opinion

Abstract

Against a contrasting backdrop of consensus on key issues on climate science, a heterogeneous group dubbed climate «skeptics», «contrarians», «deniers» have significantly shaped contemporary discussions of climate science, politics and policy in the public sphere. This essay focuses on the USA context, and explores some of the intertwined social, political and economic factors, as well as cultural and psychological characteristics that have together influenced public attitudes, intentions, beliefs, perspective and behaviors in regards to climate change science and governance over time. This article makes the case that the USA example can inform developments elsewhere; as such it is important to consider these contextual elements to more capably appraise «contrarian», «skeptic», «denier» reverberations through the current public discussions on climate change. 

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Author Biography

Maxwell Boykoff, Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES).

Fellow in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) as well as an Associate Professor in Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder (USA). His research and creative work focuses on cultural politics and environmental governance, creative climate communications, science-policy interactions, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.

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Published

2016-04-15

How to Cite

Boykoff, M. (2016). Consensus and contrarianism on climate change: How the USA case informs dynamics elsewhere. Metode Science Studies Journal, (6), 89–95. https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.6.4182
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Issue

Science grid: The public understanding of science (2016)

Section

Living with climate change. The challenge of a new cultural change

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