Climate change in the Chinese mind: An overview of public perceptions at macro and micro levels

Wang, Binbin; Zhou, Qinnan

doi:10.1002/wcc.639

Cited by 43 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 61 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…More Chinese seriously worry about climate change and one of the related findings is that many have experienced some negative climate impact personally. Climate change is one of the Chinese public’s significant concerns (Wang and Zhou, 2020).…”

Section: Perception Of Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

University students’ perceptions of climate change: the case study of the University of the South Pacific-Fiji Islands

Prasad

Mkumbachi²

2021

IJCCSM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose Higher education plays a vital role in educating citizens about climate change and promoting pro-environment behavior. Based on this statement, this study aims to analyze and evaluate students’ perception of climate change at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. The study aims to understand the main ideas and concepts of climate change by analyzing information habits and individual opinions on the causes of climate change as perceived by the students of two student organizations aimed at environmental protection. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was used to gather data on students’ perceptions and information habits toward climate change. The data were collected through a questionnaire to characterize students from the socio-demography and their perceptions, information habits and knowledge relating to climate change. This paper uses the case study method to examine students’ climate change perceptions at two different student organizations at the same university. The research study involved a focus group technique. Two focus groups at the University of the South Pacific were administered. The focus groups’ selection in this study took into account the aims and objectives of the students’ organization toward climate change awareness, adaptation, mitigation and environment protection. Findings The focus groups participants believe that climate change is a serious problem in the South Pacific region. Results suggest significant differences in climate change perception at the two students’ organizations chosen for this study. Students at the Econesian society nicknamed climate change as a nuclear weapon for the South Pacific responsible for changes in the habitat, coral bleaching, lifestyle changes, mother of all other environmental problems and the introduction of invasive species into Fiji. Students at Wantok Moana-related climate change to drastic weather changes, lack of fish feed and additional toxins in the sea. The results also showed that students at the Econesian society have a better understanding of climate change than the students of Wantok Moana. Practical implications This paper provides an insight into how students of Small Islands Developing States view climate change and the factors affecting their opinions. It also shows how climate change perception varies within the same university. This implies the need to integrate climate change into the higher education curriculum and more research on this topic. Originality/value This paper is the first to compare and contrast university students’ climate change perception in Fiji. The results make an essential contribution to the extant climate change literature by identifying and categorizing climate change perception and the factors that shape students’ perception of climate change from the university students’ perspective in Fiji.

show abstract

Section: Perception Of Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

University students’ perceptions of climate change: the case study of the University of the South Pacific-Fiji Islands

Prasad

Mkumbachi²

2021

IJCCSM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Haluza‐DeLay (2014) examines the engagements of various religious groups and traditions with human‐induced climate change because among social institutions, religions are often presumed to be one of the most important avenues for values, motivations, morals, and worldviews. Wang and Zhou (2020) split their review in a macro and a micro analysis of climate change perceptions in China and the micro‐analysis focuses on particular regions or specific populations (e.g., government officials, college students, farmers). They cite a study which focused on Tibetan villagers who view climate change as moral and spiritual issue (Byg & Salick, 2009).…”

Section: Climate Change—global Phenomenon Regional Adaptationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Perceptions can limit or encourage adaptation and “the perceptions of risks, knowledge and experience are important factors at the individual and societal level in determining whether and how adaptation takes place.” (Adger et al, 2009, p. 346). Most literature that discusses or reviews the perception of climate change focuses on individual perceptions or personal experiences (Grothmann et al, 2013; Grothmann & Patt, 2005; Hügel & Davies, 2020; Reser et al, 2014; Reser & Bradley, 2020; Tvinnereim et al, 2020; Wang & Zhou, 2020; Weber, 1997, 2016; Wolf & Moser, 2011). Perceptions of climate change risks and/or chances have been shown as important determinants of adaptation in various empirical studies (Grothmann et al, 2013; Grothmann & Patt, 2005; Hügel & Davies, 2020; Weber, 1997).…”

Section: Climate Change—global Phenomenon Regional Adaptationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historic narratives, myths and human behavior in times of climate change: A review from northern Europe's coastlands

Holzhausen¹,

Grecksch

2021

WIREs Climate Change

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Decision-making about climate change is not only shaped by rational considerations, but also influenced by how communities define themselves, by historic or fictional narratives and collective memories. We add a historical perspective to this discussion and ask how regional collective identities and knowledge shape the perception of climate change. We look at coastal communities in northern Europe, which have lived with the threat from the sea for generations. "Deus mare, Frisia litora fecit."-God created the sea, the Frisians created the coast, a famous quote in Eastern Frisia, shows how important the landscape and the battle against the sea are for a collective identity. We argue that these perceptions can influence the adaptive capacity to climate change positively, if values and collective identities of people are taken into account, or negatively, if people see their values and collective identities not taken into consideration or even threatened.

show abstract

“…However, these may help us to achieve a more authentic understanding of reality, which is that public attitudes on climate governance in China are driven by concerns about air pollution. 18 This mixture of climate change and pollution issues is reflected in the discourse of both litigants and judges in China.…”

Section: :    mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Rule of Climate Policy: How Do Chinese Judges Contribute to Climate Governance without Climate Law?

Zhu¹

2021

TEL

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

China's climate governance is distinguished by the contrast between an abundance of policies on climate change and the lack of legally binding laws. This article argues that Chinese courts bridge this difference, which fosters a ‘rule of climate policy’ rather than a strict rule of law. The effective authority of Chinese climate policy is made possible in practice both by provisions of the Chinese Constitution and the prevailing use of legal reasoning. China's constitutional design of ‘ecological civilization’ delegates the duty and the power of managing climate change issues to the executive branch of its government. Most Chinese documents on climate governance have no binding legal force, which means, according to positive law, that they cannot serve as legal grounds for judicial decisions. Chinese judges, in deciding climate-related disputes, must combine legal provisions and non-binding materials to achieve regulatory goals. They use non-legal materials to support statutory or contractual interpretations and determine the existence or limits of rights, which alters the meaning and scope of existing legal terms and principles. This rule of climate policy is possible in the courtroom because judges justify public policy considerations with arguments of principle that are substantiated in various non-binding climate plans.

show abstract

Climate change in the Chinese mind: An overview of public perceptions at macro and micro levels

Cited by 43 publications

References 61 publications

University students’ perceptions of climate change: the case study of the University of the South Pacific-Fiji Islands

University students’ perceptions of climate change: the case study of the University of the South Pacific-Fiji Islands

Historic narratives, myths and human behavior in times of climate change: A review from northern Europe's coastlands

The Rule of Climate Policy: How Do Chinese Judges Contribute to Climate Governance without Climate Law?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About