Human Dimensions of Climate Change

Flaxen Conway and Denise LachSchool of Public Policy

Marine Resource Management Program

Oregon Climate Change Research Institute

Climate Impacts Research Consortium

fconway@coas.oregonstate.edu

denise.lach@oregonstate.edu

• What are we managing when we talk about managing climate change?

• What does “human dimensions” mean?

• What is the role of HD research and knowledge in community adaptation to climate change?

• What is the role of policy in climate change right now?

Today’s Session

• Social

• Economic

• Cultural

• Political

• Historical

• Legal

Human Dimensions =

What is the role of HD research and knowledge in community adaptation to

climate change?

Theory of Planned Behavior

Knowledge of Climate Change

Individual Values

Perceived and Real Barriers

Behavioral Change

Attitudes Beliefs

National Attitudes, Values, BeliefsAbout Climate Change

Causes of Climate Change (Pew 2010)

Do you believe the earth is getting warmer? (Pew 2010)

How much do you worry about global warming? (Gallup 2010)

Top Domestic Priorities (Pew 2010)

Environment vs Economy (USA Today/Gallup)

American Values Survey (n=2000)% of Population

CG among most imp issues

9% Greenest Americans: everything is connected 68%

3% Idealists: green lifestyles 41%

24% Caretakers: healthy families need healthy env 44%

20% Traditionalists: religion/morality dictates 22%

7% Driven Independents: don’t get in the way 29%

17% Murky Middles: indifferent to most everything 34%

5% Fatalists: many unmet needs, can’t protect 46%

7% Materialists: can’t protect env, get my piece 25%

6% Cruel Worlders: resentment and isolation 29%

3% Ungreens: degradation inevitable 13%

OREGON Attitudes, Values, Beliefs, Perceptions

General Attitudes of Oregonians Regarding Climate Change and

Renewable Energy (n=1480; 2010)Which of the following best describes your opinion?

26% Climate change is not a problem; existing energy policies should be maintained.

9% Climate change is a minor problem; only minor energy policychanges are needed to encourage the development of renewable energy sources.

30% Climate change is a moderate problem; moderate energy policy changes are needed to encourage the development of renewable energy sources.

33% Climate change is a serious problem; significant energy policychanges are needed to encourage the development of renewable energy sources.

Public Knowledge and Perceptions of Change: Coast Professionals (n=300)

Important Climate Change Topic Enough Information

84% Changes in flood elevation, shoreline erosion, and beach width

7%

78%Climate change effects on community infrastructure: water systems, sewer, streets, bridges, and public buildings

4%

74% Sea level rise predictions 14%

74% Changes in frequency and intensity of storms and the potential effect on building design standards

5%

68% Projected economic costs and benefits of climate change

4%

66% Changes in rainfall, which might alter ocean or bay salinity and other aspects of estuarine habitat

5%

Responsibility for Responding to Climate Change: Coastal Professionals

80% It’s important for individuals to prepare for the effects of climate change that are predicted to occur in Oregon by reducing local vulnerability.

78% It’s important for individuals to take immediate steps to reduce the apparent causes of global climate change.

77% It’s important for governments to prepare for the effects of climate change that are predicted to occur in Oregon by reducing local vulnerability.

75% It’s important for governments to take immediate steps to reduce the apparent causes of global climate change.

Health Effects of Climate Change: (n=25/35 OR County Health Depts)

Agree Disagree Don’t Know

My health dept has the knowledge and expertise to develop strategies for dealing with public health impacts of climate change

60% 40% 0

The health care delivery system in my county has the knowledge/expertise to develop strategies for dealing …..

56% 25% 19%

The Oregon Health Department has the knowledge and expertise to develop ….

12% 44% 44%

The federal government has the knowledge and expertise to develop strategies….

16% 31% 44%

• Increase of heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps from warming (PSR, 2012)

• Higher rates of skin cancer (already documented in a report from Kaiser Permanente)

• Eye damage and disease from UV and radiation exposure (PSR, 2012)

• Outbreaks of diseases from flooding (Frumkin, 2008)

• Increase in vector-borne disease such as Lyme disease and West Nile Virus, from insects that have access to more breeding grounds from flooding and warming (McMichael 2003; PSR, 2012);

Potential Public Health Risks Associated with Climate Change in OR

• Higher rates of asthma and other respiratory diseases (EPA 2008; McMichael, 2003; PSR, 2012)

• Disease outbreak from contamination of water by bacteria (e.g. Salmonella, Shigella),viruses (e.g. rotavirus), and protozoa (e.g. Giardia lamblia, amoebas, Cryptosporidium, and Cyclospora) (PSR, 2012)

• Increased exposure to mercury in fish and water, red tides and seafood toxicity (PSR, 2012)

• Higher exposure to pesticides (PSR, 2012)

• Crowding, higher rates of communicable disease spread, and increased pollution in urban areas (McMichael, 2003).

More Potential Health Risks

Who is most at risk? • Individuals with impaired immune systems

• Lower income individuals and communities

• Rural communities that may be in areas more prone to temperature change, wildfire or disease outbreak and with less access to health care

• Children, pregnant women, and the elderly, predicted to be 20% of Oregon’s population by 2020 (Oregon Parks and Recreation, 2010), and who may be more susceptible to health risks

Role of Education and Research

• Become aware/informed on how it personally relates

• What we do does impact

• Change our habits

• Change happens over time

• Keep it up

More HD Research Needed

• How Oregonians -- affected by climate change due to the place they live, the job they hold, or the organization they work for -- experience climate change impacts

• Acceptability of specific policy and behavioral changes

• Barriers faced by individuals, groups, and organizations, including state agencies, as they start to respond to the observed impacts of climate change in Oregon.

What about Policy…

• In short, we really don’t have climate change policy.

• Climate change policy attempts have been knocked down, avoided…

• Policy makers know that our culture is focused on ease, modernity, consumption.

• Even plastic bag policies are a huge deal…

OtherQuestions?Observations?Comments?

References

Borberg, J. J Cone, L Jordice, M Harte, and P Corcoran. 2009. An Analysis of a Survey of Oregon Coast Decision Makers Regarding Climate Change. Oregon Sea Grant. URL: http://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/sgpubs/onlinepubs/s09001.html.

Environmental Protection Agency. 2008. Analyses of the Effect of Global Change on Human Health and Welfare and Human Systems. URL: http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-6/default.php

Frumkin, H J Hess, G Luber, J Malilay, and M McGeehin.  2008. Climate Change: The Public Health Response. American Journal of Public Health 98(3): 435-445.

Gallup. 2010. Americans’ Global Warming Concerns Continue to Drop (March 11, 2010). URL: http://www.gallup.com/poll/126560/americans-global-warming-concerns-continue-drop.aspx

Lach, D, ,J Cone, B Doppelt, M Heumann, T Inman, K MacKendrick6 B Steel, and S Vynne. 2011. Human Dimensions of Climate Change: Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers to Change; Impacts on Cultural and Built Environment; and Potential Public Health Impacts. URL:

occri.net/wpcontent/uploads/2011/04/chapter9ocar.pdf

Physicians for Social Responsibility. 2012. URL: http://www.psr.org/environment-and-health/global-warming/

Pierce, J, B Steel, and R Warner. 2009. Knowledge, Culture, and Public Support for Renewable Energy Technology Policy in Oregon. Comparative Technology Transfer and Society 7: 270-286.

McMichael, A, D Campbell-Lendrum, C Corvalán, K Ebi, A Githeko, J Scheraga, and A Woodward. 2003. World Health Organization (WHO). Climate change and human health - risks and responses.

Oregon Parks and Recreation. 2010. Climate Change Response: Preparedness and Action Plan. URL: http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/NATRES/docs/OPRDClimateChangePlan_forCommission_forweb.pdf?ga=t

Pew Research Center. 2010. Energy Concerns Fall, Deficit Concerns Rise. Public’s Priorities for 2010: Economy, Jobs, Terrorism.URL: http://www.people-press.org/2010/01/25/publics-priorities-for-2010-economy-jobs-terrorism/

Pike, C, M Herr, D Minkow, and H Weiner . 2008. Re: Green. The Ecological Roadmap. Earth Justice. URL: http://www.thesocialcapitalproject.org/a/thesocialcapitalproject.org/scp/The-Social-Capital-Project/publications/ecologicalroadmap

USA Today/Gallup Poll. 2010. Voters Rate Economy as Top Issue for 2010 April 8, 2010. URL: http://www.gallup.com/poll/127247/voters-rate-economy-top-issue-2010.aspx

Vynne, S and B Doppelt. 2009. Climate Change Health Preparedness in Oregon: An Assessment of Awareness, Preparation and Resource Needs for Potential Public Health Risks URL: www.thesocialcapitalproject.org/The-Social-Capital-Project