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BSRS Keynote

Informing action on climate change

Concepts of ease and effectiveness of various actions to slow or stop climate change have been studied and reported for several decades, but often in piecemeal fashion.

Climate Change popster
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Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Hovedinnhold

Ann Bostrom
Weyerhaeuser endowed Professor of Environmental Policy
Evans School of Public Policy and Governance
University of Washington (Seattle, USA)

Examining efficacy beliefs in the context of mental models, associated risk perceptions, and the decisions people face may be a more useful approach, with a larger potential to inform behavioral and policy changes to slow or stop climate change. Beliefs about the ease of personal actions as well as beliefs about the effectiveness of collective and government actions are positively associated with stronger support for policies to slow or stop climate change.

Putting these into the broader context of emotions and other perceptions highlights the importance of understanding mental models and risk perceptions, specific efficacy beliefs, and the decisions people face in order to inform and support actions on climate change.

See the keynote and join the discussion on Zoom.

All are welcome!

Ann Bostrom is Weyerhaeuser endowed Professor of Environmental Policy in the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA. Ann Bostrom specializes in risk communication and policy analysis. She is past-president of the Society for Risk Analysis International.

Her presentation will draw on her work on the role of efficacy beliefs and mental models in risk communication and policy. Concepts of ease and effectiveness of various actions to slow or stop climate change have been studied and reported for several decades, but often in piecemeal fashion. Examining efficacy beliefs in the context of their mental models and the decisions they face appears to be a more useful approach, with the potential to inform those seeking behavioral and policy changes.

Beliefs about ease of personal actions as well as beliefs about the effectiveness of collective and government action appear to drive stronger support for policies to slow or stop climate change. Putting these into the broader context of emotions and other perceptions highlights the importance of understanding specific efficacy beliefs and risk perceptions in order to influence decisions and actions on climate change.