American Perceptions of Climate Change (IAP Workshop)

Over 50% of Americans are worried about climate change – but why is the rest of the country not? Do they just not get it? Are they duped by misinformation and corporate propaganda? What role does the media play? And how do we get more Americans to support taking action on climate change?

Join this workshop on public perceptions, engagement, and communications in America today.

Reviewing American Perceptions on Climate Change
Thurs. Jan 27, 1:00 - 2:30 PM, Virtual

Led by Laur Hesse Fisher, Program Director, MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative

The first session will review academic literature and real-world projects on understanding and engaging with Americans across the political spectrum on the topic of climate change. Weaving presentation and discussion, it will draw upon learnings from the fields of political science, psychology, sociology, and communications to unpack how – and why – Americans think the way they do about climate change, what more we need to know, and what more we need to do. The session will also review:

• How Americans’ understanding of climate change it is (and is not) evolving
• Deniers, skeptics, alarmists – is there room for nuance?
• Republicans and climate change: policy, politics & activism
• Climate journalism in today’s media environment
• High school climate change education in the U.S.
• Lab- and field-tested strategies for climate change engagement and communications

**Please note that the second day of this workshop has been cancelled. The first day will run as planned.**