Australians’ views on climate change policy and processes A Climate for Change Federal Parliamentary briefing, 21 March 2011 Dr Fiona Cameron, Senior Research Fellow Centre for Cultural Research University of Western Sydney Dr Ben Dibley, Research Officer Dr Anne Newstead, Research Officer

Hot Science, Global Citizens: quantitative and qualitative research Cultural research used to shed light on the complex dispositions and practices that ordinary Australians hold in regards to climate change, decision-making, the larger scale systemic transformations required to intervene in climate change and the roles of museums and science centres Research: Online demographic survey across Australia (sample 1507), focus group research and media analysis (November 2008 and December 2009) Interest: 62% of Australians are interested in climate change but 59% did not feel that they were informed. 11.6% classified themselves as doubters Attitudes: 63% of Australians expressed concern, 33% frustration; 26% anxiety; 26% unsure Influence: 92% felt they had little influence in decision-making over climate change initiatives, Concerns: 81%, the impact of climate change on future generations; 56% the reduction in biodiversity; 56% environmental damage to remote communities Environmental or economic impact: 75% viewed the environmental impacts of climate change as a greater concern than economic impacts

Sources of information on climate change and confidence (Australia and the US) Most trusted: science organisations (70%) and cultural institutions: museums and science centres (55%) Least trusted: 88% corporations; 66% government; 57% commercial media

Who is responsible to mitigate climate change and effectiveness? Responsibility is largely attached to governments, transnational organisations and corporations but they were also seen as the least effective Most responsible: 79%, Federal government with 88% wanting government to take a lead in decision-making.

Policy initiatives, citizens priorities and decision –making The Australian publics’ policy priorities differed from the Federal Government in energy strategy, markets and technology, education, equity and social justice issues Citizens require government to include their views and priorities in decisions on policy

Conclusions Complex and contradictory positions are evident People feel under-informed; require education; voice clear policy preferences; distrust government and media; are confused by competing information; and feel they are not being listened to People understand that important decisions and wider systemic changes must be made; acknowledge climate change as complex involving competing agendas and require complex information from less partisan sources; see their agency operating at grassroots to change collective habitual behavior; and see policy as a mechanism for defining the contours of life and want a greater stake in it. Museums and science centres as interfaces in debates and decision-making by providing information about climate change as a complex scientific, cultural, economic and social issue; by offering a range of views and inputs on generic policy scenarios as sites of congregation, for debates, deliberations and cross-sectoral conversations about future lifestyle options