skepticism
Newsletter
Climate disruption skepticism persists among Australians
Despite widespread climate events, only 60% of Australians believe human activity causes climate disruption, a recent poll reveals.
In short:
- An international survey found Australians are among the most skeptical globally about human-caused climate disruption.
- The poll showed a drop in belief from 66% to 60% in 18 months, lower than the global average of 73%.
- Only 52% of Australians believe the costs of climate impacts will exceed the costs of ecological transition.
Key quote:
"We need to do more work in telling the stories about the facts."
— Richard Kirkman, chief executive of Veolia in Australia
Why this matters:
Australia's skepticism about climate disruption hinders effective climate action, as public and political support is crucial for meaningful environmental policies. Misinformation and political messaging impact public understanding and response to climate change.
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Newsletter
Carbon markets in question as payment uncertainties loom
A surge in carbon removal technologies raises questions about sustainable funding sources.
In short:
- Innovation in carbon removal is escalating, yet funding mechanisms remain unclear, with companies traditionally buying offsets for environmental compensation.
- Recent skepticism has led to a decline in demand for voluntary carbon market credits, citing reliability issues and a lack of enforcement standards.
- Key industry figures express concerns over the sustainability of carbon markets, highlighting the need for established accounting standards and reliable enforcement.
Key quote:
"More than anything, it’s perpetuated a lack of trust in the voluntary carbon market, which has greatly affected demand."
— Arbor Day Foundation
Why this matters:
Trust and transparency are essential for the growth and effectiveness of carbon markets. Without these, the potential for these markets to facilitate significant environmental restoration and carbon mitigation is compromised, impacting future business models and environmental policies.
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Concern grows over climate change impact; skepticism remains about Biden's policy effectiveness
A recent poll indicates growing American concern for climate change, though skepticism persists about the efficacy of President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act.
Alexa St. John and Linley Sanders report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- About 45% of U.S. adults report increasing worry about climate change, with marked differences between political parties.
- Despite the Inflation Reduction Act's incentives for clean energy, only a small fraction of Americans recognize personal benefits from the policy.
- Confidence in the long-term effectiveness of the IRA's provisions to address climate change remains low among the general populace.
Key quote:
"We have four children that are in their 20s. It’s like, what’s our grandkids’ world going to be like?"
— Ron Theusch, truck driver and resident of Alden, Minnesota
Why this matters:
The partisan divide on this issue is also significant. Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to view climate change as a major threat and to prioritize it as a national issue. This divide extends to perceptions of President Biden's climate policies, with Democrats more likely to support aggressive climate actions compared to their Republican counterparts, who show considerable skepticism about the impact and necessity of these policies.
In 2022, Peter Dykstra asked: Will the Inflation Reduction Act mark the time when fossil fuels begin to fossilize?
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The Energy Department’s fusion breakthrough: It’s not really about generating electricity
The fusion breakthrough that the US Energy Department announced this week is scientifically significant, but the significance relates to the monitoring of the country's nuclear weapons stockpike, not to clean electricity generation.
Climate skepticism is rife in Down East Maine
With many threats to their natural resource-based economy, climate change is not a priority for many in Washington County.
New Coalition MP was founding member of club promoting climate science denial
The new federal MP for the Queensland seat of Flynn was a founding member of a club formed to promote climate science denial, and was a signatory to an international statement claiming “there is no climate emergency”.
How the BBC became a “football” in the climate change culture wars
Climate contrarians are losing their ideological battle as net zero makes increasing economic and environmental sense.
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