‘A diabolical challenge’: public opinion and climate change policy in Australia

Pietsch, Juliet; McAllister, Ian

doi:10.1080/09644010903574509

Cited by 70 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Climate change and agriculture have a unique relationship, which is well documented in the literature [1][2][3]. This particularly prevalent with regards to its influence on agricultural activities and subsequent crop yields.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…The way in which individuals (including farmers) and societies respond to climate change has been closely linked to community perceptions of climate variability, as well as other consequences [1][2][3]. As such, a lucid understanding of smallholder farmers' perceptions regarding climate variability, and how they influence their farming practices, is of critical importance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions on Climate Change and the Use of Sustainable Agricultural Practices in the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa

Makate

Mango

2017

Social Sciences

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Abstract:In developing regions with high levels of poverty and a dependence on climate sensitive agriculture, studies focusing on climate change adaptation, planning, and policy processes, have gained relative importance over the years. This study assesses the impact of farmer perceptions regarding climate change on the use of sustainable agricultural practices as an adaptation strategy in the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa. In this empirical approach, we adopt methods that account for the plausibility that unmeasured characteristics exist, which are correlated with perceptions and the adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Practices. We use a unique and representative dataset collected in December 2012 and June 2013, from smallholder farmers in the Chinyanja Triangle. The results indicate that farmer's perceptions significantly influence the use of sustainable agricultural practices. Specifically, we established that farmer perceptions considerably impact the use of grain legume rotations, inorganic fertilizers, compost, and farmyard manure. Our results highlight the need for a serious and perhaps equal consideration of farmer perceptions regarding climate change, as important inputs to climate change adaptation policies targeted at enhancing climatic resilience in smallholder farming communities. This is plausible as the adaptation and pliability of farmers to the effects of climate change should be a social process involving the collective efforts from various stakeholders.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions on Climate Change and the Use of Sustainable Agricultural Practices in the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa

Makate

Mango

2017

Social Sciences

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“…This was supported by Humphreys (2007) and Spash (2010) Public preferences for the ETS have been found to be divided. Pietsch and McAllister (2010) found in their survey of 1000 participants that the ETS was positively received by the majority (58%) of the Australians. While 29% strongly favoured the scheme, 22% also strongly opposed the ETS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A significant portion of citizens currently dispute climate change estimates, including biophysical effects and sea level rise predictions (Alexander et al in press;Climate Institute 2010;Hulme 2009). Public debate has escalated and in many instances has polarised in response to mass media involvement and political partisanship, biasing representations of the impacts of emission trading schemes (ETSs) and casting doubt on economic implications (Pietsch and McAllister, 2010;Spash, 2010). The opinions of climate change sceptics have been found to impact the course of public debate on climate mitigation strategies (Climate Institute 2010; Leviston and Walker 2010;Nerlich 2010;Oreskes and Conway 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Strong opinions outnumbered milder opinions suggesting a strongly opinionated minority within the population were opposed the ETS. There was a tendency for polarisation of attitudes, which Pietsch and McAllister (2010) claim has been accelerated by the successful knowledge diffusion from climate change sceptics and industrial lobby groups into the public arena. They also noted that the strong opponents may include those who accept the evidence of human-induced climate change but doubt that the proposed ETS is the right policy instrument to address climate change issues.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reciprocity as Deliberative Capacity: Lessons from a Citizen's Deliberation on Carbon Pricing Mechanisms in Australia

Alexander

Proctor

et al. 2013

Environ Plann C Gov Policy

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Australia has seen a deep division in opinion in search of a carbon pricing mechanism. While concepts of carbon taxation and emission trading have comparable public support, climate scepticism is influencing the debates in political and public spheres in downplaying the need for carbon pricing. Public deliberation is a possible engagement option to address the conflict inherent in climate policy preferences. This research explores the way that a deliberative forum involving twenty-four Australians promoted effective communication between participants through which conflict between policy preferences became more tangible. While the forum did not eliminate disagreement in preferences in the choice of carbon pricing mechanisms, participants reached consensus on fundamental principles such as the need for trusted sources of information, trusted governance procedures, and transparent accountability by appropriate institutions. Shared political expectations encouraged dialogue and cooperation in discussions by enhancing reciprocal understanding. Two sceptical participants who originally had strong opinions different from the rest of the group managed to find common ground. Public deliberative forums that are conducive to reciprocal communication are able to provide a mechanism for joint problem-solving processes that are less adversarial and more responsive to the range of people's preferences. Keywords: public deliberation, consensus, emission trading, carbon tax, deliberative democracy, Australia

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Climate change and Australia

Head

Adams

McGregor³

et al. 2013

WIREs Climate Change

113

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Australia has had a variable and mostly arid climate as long as humans have been on the continent. Historically observed trends toward increased warming, with rainfall increases in many tropical areas and rainfall decreases in many temperate areas, are projected to continue. Impacts will be geographically variable but mostly negative for biodiversity, agriculture, and infrastructure. Extreme events such as bushfires and floods will increase in frequency and intensity, concentrated in summer. With an economy heavily dependent on coal for domestic electricity generation and as an export commodity, Australians are high per capita contributors to anthropogenic climate change. A quarter‐century of steps to mitigation led in 2012 to a carbon price that has the long‐term potential to shift the economy toward more renewable energy sources. However as in other parts of the world this change has come too late, and is proceeding too slowly, to avoid significant climate change. A heritage of indigenous adaptation, strong volunteer cultures, and contemporary cultural diversity provide Australia with considerable adaptive capacity for gradual changes, but the nation is underprepared for sudden or step changes. We identify four pressing research and policy needs focused on such changes: (1) systematic attention to processes and impacts of negative transformative change, or worst‐case scenarios, (2) improve forecasts of year‐to‐year rainfall and climate variability, focusing on processes and climate drivers that may change in response to higher greenhouse gases, (3) identification and engagement of diverse cross‐cultural resources, and (4) articulation of alternative governance mechanisms that can interact dynamically with strong government. WIREs Clim Change 2014, 5:175–197. doi: 10.1002/wcc.255 This article is categorized under: Trans‐Disciplinary Perspectives > National Reviews

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‘A diabolical challenge’: public opinion and climate change policy in Australia

Cited by 70 publications

References 32 publications

Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions on Climate Change and the Use of Sustainable Agricultural Practices in the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa

Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions on Climate Change and the Use of Sustainable Agricultural Practices in the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa

Reciprocity as Deliberative Capacity: Lessons from a Citizen's Deliberation on Carbon Pricing Mechanisms in Australia

Climate change and Australia

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