Climate communications: Poll indicates messaging has led to untrue beliefs
New YouGov study of 30,000 people in 28 countries and regions uncovers noticeable differences in attitudes between East and West
Depending on the country, a large segment of the population believes climate change will lead to human extinction. This is in line with a recent poll in the U.S. which found that 51% of voters between age 18 and 35 believe humanity may cease to exist in ten years. There is no scientific evidence for such claims – none.
This illustrates the power of propaganda messaging to create beliefs lacking scientific or evidence-based support.
Public opinion polls are primarily a measure of the effectiveness of prior propaganda messaging campaigns. Public opinion polls do not measure actual understanding of a topic (as compared to a knowledge survey).
This type of opinion poll result is an effective form of “Get on the bandwagon” – everyone else already believes this, therefore so should you!
The Nature Conservancy should focus on facts of atmospheric CO2 levels rising, land and sea surface temperature anomalies, ice pack changes, ocean Ph and sea level change (IPCC Synthesis Report, Figure SPM.1) – as reported by reputable scientific bodies, but they did not. Instead they went straight for hyperbole and making untrue claims to promote fear and hysteria.
Stick with the facts of CO2 rising, sea level ice and temperature changes, ice mass changes or risk tuning all of us out. Shrill terminology designed to create emotional outrage and responses is a total turn off.
The facts are sufficient. The impacts of untrue propaganda hysteria, on the other hand, are to turn off the target completely. We have learned nothing from the parable of the boy who repeatedly cried Wolf!
The propaganda messaging methods presently in use are leading to public opinions that are not based in facts, logic or evidence. This risks the potential for major backlash against taking action to reduce CO2-equivalent effects on climate.