Social Representation of Climate Change among Young Spanish University Students

Abstract

Understanding the similarities and differences between what the population think and the available science on the causes, processes, consequences and solutions of anthropogenic alteration of climatic phenomena opens a window to demonstrate that the common culture surrounding Climate Change (CC) can have a greater influence than its scientific representation, since the weight of certain variables associated with the ways in which this common culture is constructed in societies generates differences in the degree of importance given to the phenomenon. Understanding the social representation of CC among university students is of great interest, since communication about it is usually restricted to the field of research and its threat potential has barely reached the general public, causing a discontinuous flow that does not connect significantly with climate science, resulting in different beliefs about climate change and a common culture around it that generates doubts and uncertainties.