1. Climate change perceptions in the Pacific Northwest: A study on general population concerns Student: Augusto Gabrielli, Advisors: J.D. Wulfhorst, Professor, Rural Sociology, and Leigh Bernacchi, Postdoctoral Researcher, Rural Sociology Research Group University of Idaho Environmental Science Program, Moscow ID Methods Discussion Results References Acknowledgements Summary and Conclusion Climate change has garnered increased attention, yet unclear action for many stakeholders. Opportunities to address climate change impacts should include a better understanding of citizen perspectives of climate change, views on research support for public funding, as well as source of those funds. Results from a Tri-State (ID, OR, and WA) general population survey in Regional Approaches to Climate CHange (REACCH) address these issues. 1.) Identify the level of concern that citizens in the Tri-State region have about climate change. 2.) Measure levels of general population support to publicly fund climate change research. 3.) Identify the general populations views to address climate change. Results indicate a strong bivariate correlation between strong support for public research funding and greater perceived concern about climate change. on Objectives Introduction A significant level of concern exists within the general public in the Pacific Northwest about climate change. Although concern can reflect different attributes among respondents, these results reveal substantive awareness and perception of a climate problem. Beliefs in the region also indicate support for public funding to additional research on addressing climate change and that a broad sector of involvement from government agencies and citizens is a preferred approach. How concerned are Pacific Northwest citizens about climate change? How concerned Tri-State citizens are about climate change by how much they support or oppose public funding for research. Who should be doing more or less to address climate change? Byrne, J., Hughes, K., Rickerson, W., & Kurdgelashvili, L American policy conflict in the greenhouse: Divergent trends in federal, regional, state, and local green energy and climate policy. (2007). Energy Policy, 35, 4555-4573. Gillespie, M. Americans favor alternative energy methods to solve shortages. (2001) Washington D.C.: The Gallup Organization. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007: Working Group III: Mitigation of climate change contribution of working group III to the fourth assessment report of intergovernmental panel on climate change. (2007). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Opinion Research Corporation. Global warming and alternative energy: a leadership survey. (2006). Princeton: Princeton University Press. Special Thanks: J.D,. Wulfhorst, Leigh Bernacchi, Monica Reyna, Stephane Kane, Amanda Bentley, Jan Boll, SSRU, Rural Sociology Lab Group, and the Environmental Science Capstone class. Data for this survey were collected from telephone surveys conducted at the Social Science Research Unit (SSRU) at the University of Idaho for the REACCH program between September 18, 2012 and November 15, 2012.. -The results include 1,301 responses from a random stratified sample with a cooperation rate of 43%. Results show strong support for institutions to be more responsible about climate change Increasing evidence documents climate change is affected by anthropogenic sources (IPCC, 2007). Given that human elements are both sources of effects and responses, climate change initiatives need to include societal level aspects of human perceptions and behaviors. -Climate change remains a relevant social and environmental issue. As early as 2001, 90% of Americans supported research into alternative energies (Gillespie, 2001). And, more recently in 2006, 83% of Americans supported state and local efforts to address climate change, yet wanted the federal government to lead the way (ORC, 2006). -Results on views from the REACCH general public data clearly shows that over 60% of citizens in the Pacific Northwest are at least somewhat concerned about climate change and that this concern correlates to supporting public funding towards climate change research. Considering there is support for climate change research a majority of citizens in the Pacific Northwest want to see at least some climate change initiative come from public sources. Despite limitations on the part of government to address climate change (Bryne et al, 2007), there is general public support in the Pacific Northwest for local, state, and federal government actions to address climate change policy, but interestingly a comparable interest in citizen involvement.