| Climatologists’ patterns of conveying climate science to the agricultural community | Wilke, Adam K. | 2015 |
KeywordsClimatologists, Agriculture, Climate science, Science communication, Science and society AbstractClimatologists have a unique role in providing various stakeholders and public data users with weather and climate information. In the north central region (NCR) of the United States, farmers, the agricultural sector, and policy makers are important audiences for climate science. As local and global climate conditions continue to shift and affect agricultural productivity, it is useful to understand how climatologists view their role as scientists, and how this influences their communication of climate science to agricultural stakeholders. In this study, data from interviews (N = 13) and surveys (N = 19) of state and extension climatologists in the NCR are analyzed to identify perceived roles and responsibilities as scientists and communicators. Pielke’s (The honest broker: making sense of science in policy and politics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,2007) framework of the idealized roles of scientists and their communication patterns are used to develop a typology of climate science communication. Findings reveal that more than half of climatologists perceive their role to provide information as pure scientists, while some engage in an arbiter role when requested. Fewer climatologists view their role as not only producing new knowledge, but also relating it to society and providing an expanded variety of alternative applications. Climatologists who perceive their role as simply providing information and letting data users interpret its application are missing an opportunity to reduce the gap between what scientists know and farmers believe. This suggests that if climatologists would frame their climate science message in terms of agricultural impacts, hazard mitigation and risk management alternatives they could help the agricultural sector adapt to and mitigate environmental risks from a changing climate. AuthorsWilke, Adam K. and Morton, Lois Wright Year Published2015 PublicationAgriculture and Human Values LocationsDOI10.1007/s10460-014-9531-5 |
| Understanding Farmer Perspectives on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: The Roles of Trust in Sources of Climate Information, Climate Change Beliefs, and Perceived Risk | Arbuckle, J. G. | 2015 |
Keywordsadaptation, agriculture, climate change, mitigation, risk AbstractAgriculture is vulnerable to climate change and a source of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Farmers face pressures to adjust agricultural systems to make them more resilient in the face of increasingly variable weather (adaptation) and reduce GHG production (mitigation). This research examines relationships between Iowa farmers’ trust in environmental or agricultural interest groups as sources of climate information, climate change beliefs, perceived climate risks to agriculture, and support for adaptation and mitigation responses. Results indicate that beliefs varied with trust, and beliefs in turn had a significant direct effect on perceived risks from climate change. Support for adaptation varied with perceived risks, while attitudes toward GHG reduction (mitigation) were associated predominantly with variation in beliefs. Most farmers were supportive of adaptation responses, but few endorsed GHG reduction, suggesting that outreach should focus on interventions that have adaptive and mitigative properties (e.g., reduced tillage, improved fertilizer management). AuthorsArbuckle, J. G., Morton, L. W. and Hobbs, J. Year Published2015 PublicationEnvironment and Behavior LocationsDOI10.1177/0013916513503832 |
| State Service Foresters' Attitudes Toward Using Climate and Weather Information When Advising Forest | Carlton, Stuart J. | 2013 |
Keywordsadaptation, climate change, private landowners, service foresters AbstractClimate change threatens the health of global forests. Integrating climate information into forest management can help with climate change adaptation but doing so requires extensive engagement between scientists, practitioners, and decisionmakers. Forestry advisors are an important source of forest management information for many private landowners. However, little is known about forestry advisors' attitudes toward using and delivering climate and weather information. We surveyed state service foresters in the midwestern United States to assess their information needs and attitudes toward incorporating climate and weather forecasts into their practices. Most respondents (70%) indicated that they could find the short-term weather information they needed to advise landowners. Only 26% indicated that they could find the long-term climate information they needed. A majority of respondents indicated they would be interested in receiving long-term climate information. Results suggest that service foresters are open to using climate forecasts and information. Work needs to be done to ensure that the information presented is valuable to and usable by foresters. AuthorsCarlton, Stuart J., Angel, James R., Fei, Songlin, Huber, Matthew, Koontz, Thomas M., MacGowan, Brian J., Mullendore, Nathan D., Babin, Nicholas and Prokopy, Linda S. Year Published2013 PublicationJournal of Forestry LocationsDOI10.5849/jof.13-054 |
| Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change and variability in semi-arid rural southeastern Arizona, USA | Coles, Ashley R. | 2009 |
KeywordsClimate, Agriculture, Vulnerability, Risk, Adaptation, Information AbstractAgricultural and livestock producers experiencing climate change and variability are simultaneously subject to other sources of environmental vulnerability, as well as political, social, and economic uncertainty. Producers' adaptive decision making takes into account short-term seasonal factors, while seeking to preserve livelihood stability over the long term. This study identifies multiple sources of vulnerability for farmers and ranchers in southeastern Arizona, and the adaptive strategies they have adopted including the use of information such as seasonal climate forecasts (SCFs). Interviews with producers and extension agents in Pima and Cochise Counties reveal that the principal climatic risks are drought, floods and frosts, and that groundwater use remains a crucial strategy despite increasing pumping costs. Low risk tolerance and uncertainty of seasonal production and marketing conditions diminish the utility of SCFs as a decision-making tool. Instead, farmers and ranchers continue to rely on past experience and short-range forecasts, hedging each year instead of taking significant risks. By examining the role of climate information in complex production decisions, the study shows that access to information is not the principal limitation to improving decision making. Comparison to other regions reaffirms common vulnerabilities among producers and highlights research and communication needs that have global relevance. AuthorsColes, Ashley R. and Scott, Christopher A. Year Published2009 PublicationNatural Resources Forum LocationsDOI10.1111/j.1477-8947.2009.01253.x |
| Carbon sequestration and private rangelands: Insights from Utah landowners and implications for policy development | Cook, Seth L. | 2014 |
KeywordsDecision making, Carbon storage, Climate change, Private landownership, Ranching, Mitigation, Adoption AbstractThe management of private rangelands is important to the overall potential of terrestrial carbon sequestration in the U.S. Previous research has focused on the adoption of innovative range management and conservation practices, but little is known about rangeland owner decision making with respect to carbon sequestration. This study examined Utah rangeland owners’ current management practices in relation to soil carbon management and explored factors influencing their likelihood of participating in a carbon sequestration program. Data were collected from a statewide survey of Utah rangeland owners to assess the relationships between their demographics, landownership characteristics, awareness of and attitudes toward carbon sequestration, beliefs about climate change, and reported likelihood to participate in a relevant program. Thirty-seven percent of respondents were considered potential participants. Higher likelihood of participation was associated with dependence on livestock production, considering it a moderately or very important management objective, having an interest in learning more about it, and valuing its potential economic and climate benefits. Although education and outreach are generally considered important policy tools for promoting conservation, special efforts are needed in the case of carbon sequestration to develop innovative strategies to communicate its concept and related processes with rangeland owners without politicizing the issue. One approach is to tailor education and outreach messages to focus on the ecological benefits of carbon sequestration that are valued by many rangeland owners. Instead of developing new programs, carbon sequestration can also be incorporated into existing conservation programs as a management objective at both federal and state levels. Research is needed to further examine the perceived differences between carbon sequestration and other conventional conservation practices in order to improve the carbon sequestration potential of existing conservation programs and attract wider participation among rangeland owners. AuthorsCook, Seth L. and Ma, Zhao Year Published2014 PublicationLand Use Policy LocationsDOI10.1016/j.landusepol.2013.09.021 |
| Farmer beliefs about climate change and carbon sequestration incentives | Gramig, BM | 2013 |
KeywordsClimate change beliefs, Farmers, Outreach, Survey, Carbon sequestration AbstractAgricultural land management practices are frequently discussed in the context of domestic and international policies to mitigate and adapt to future climate change. Agriculture has not been one of the economic sectors covered by proposed or enacted greenhouse gas emissions limits; thus, agriculture has been the subject of much research on its technical and economic potential to mitigate climate change impacts. We report the results of a survey of Indiana row crop farmers (n = 724) beliefs about climate change, the effect of climate change on their farm operation, and the best way to create incentives for farmers to store more carbon in agricultural soils. Farmer beliefs and their strength of opinions about these issues are important for developing future policy proposals, decision support tools, and emissions markets that involve agricultural emissions offsets. We found that 79% of surveyed Indiana farmers believe that climate change is an ongoing natural process, compared to 45% who believe that human activities are contributing to climate change. A total of 31% of respondents expressed neither belief nor disbelief that humans are contributing to climate change, suggesting that nearly one-third of respondents either do not know or have not made up their minds about the causes of climate change. We found clear differences in farmers beliefs about occurrence and causes of climate change compared to the general population. Our results suggest that farmers require a better understanding of the expected effects of climate change on weather and cropping systems management, and that farmers beliefs are capable of being informed through outreach and extension of climate change research. AuthorsGramig, BM, Barnard, JM and Prokopy, LS Year Published2013 PublicationClimate Research LocationsDOI10.3354/cr01142 |
| Enhancing the Social Amplification of Risk Framework (SARF) by exploring trust, the availability heuristic, and agricultural advisors' belief in climate change | Mase, Amber S. | 2015 |
KeywordsAdaptation attitudes, Availability heuristic, Risk, Trust, Information AbstractUsing a survey of agricultural advisors across the Midwestern U.S., this paper explores two additions to the Social Amplification of Risk Framework (SARF)—trust in information sources and the availability heuristic. Connections between demographic factors, belief in climate change, perceived risk, and advisors' attitudes toward adaptation to climate change are examined. Three-fourths of advisors believe climate change is occurring, but disagree on the human contribution. Trust in information sources predicted agricultural advisors' belief in climate change. Consistent with the availability heuristic, perceiving variability in weather made advisors more likely to believe in anthropogenic climate change. Believing climate change is at least partly human caused increased agreement that agricultural adaptation is important. Perceiving greater risk from potential climate impacts and noticing variable weather also significantly increased adaptation attitudes. Findings suggest that trust and availability heuristic could be added to help explain the processes of social amplification and attenuation of risk. AuthorsMase, Amber S., Cho, Hyunyi and Prokopy, Linda S. Year Published2015 PublicationJournal of Environmental Psychology LocationsDOI10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.12.004 |
| Rural Nevada and Climate Change: Vulnerability, Beliefs, and Risk Perception | Saleh Safi, Ahmad | 2012 |
KeywordsAdaptive capacity, climate change, drought, Nevada, physical vulnerability, ranchers and farmers, risk perception, sensitivity, vulnerability AbstractIn this article, we present the results of a study investigating the influence of vulnerability to climate change as a function of physical vulnerability, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity on climate change risk perception. In 2008/2009, we surveyed Nevada ranchers and farmers to assess their climate change-related beliefs, and risk perceptions, political orientations, and socioeconomic characteristics. Ranchers’ and farmers’ sensitivity to climate change was measured through estimating the proportion of their household income originating from highly scarce water-dependent agriculture to the total income. Adaptive capacity was measured as a combination of the Social Status Index and the Poverty Index. Utilizing water availability and use, and population distribution GIS databases; we assessed water resource vulnerability in Nevada by zip code as an indicator of physical vulnerability to climate change. We performed correlation tests and multiple regression analyses to examine the impact of vulnerability and its three distinct components on risk perception. We find that vulnerability is not a significant determinant of risk perception. Physical vulnerability alone also does not impact risk perception. Both sensitivity and adaptive capacity increase risk perception. While age is not a significant determinant of it, gender plays an important role in shaping risk perception. Yet, general beliefs such as political orientations and climate change-specific beliefs such as believing in the anthropogenic causes of climate change and connecting the locally observed impacts (in this case drought) to climate change are the most prominent determinants of risk perception. AuthorsSaleh Safi, Ahmad, James Smith, William and Liu, Zhnongwei Year Published2012 PublicationRisk Analysis LocationsDOI10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01836.x |
| Climate Change and Western Public Lands: a Survey of U.S. Federal Land Managers on the Status of Adaptation Efforts | Archie, Kelli M. | 2012 |
Keywordsadaptation, climate change, decision making, federal agencies, public lands AbstractClimate change and its associated consequences pose an increasing risk to public lands in the western United States. High-level mandates currently require federal agencies to begin planning for adaptation, but the extent to which these mandates have resulted in policies being implemented that affect on the ground practices is unclear. To examine the status of adaptation efforts, we conducted an original survey and semistructured interviews with land managers from the four major federal land management agencies in the U.S. states of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. The survey was designed to examine current planning for adaptation on public lands and how it differs from prior planning, the major challenges facing land managers in this region, the major barriers preventing managers from planning for adaptation, and the major hurdles associated with implementing adaptation plans. Our results show that some adaptation planning is currently taking place, but that few adaptation projects have made it to the implementation phase. Overall, respondents considered lack of information at relevant scales, budget constraints, lack of specific agency direction, and lack of useful information to be the most common barriers to adaption planning. Budget constraints, lack of perceived importance to the public, and lack of public awareness or demand to take action were reported to be the biggest hurdles to implementation of adaptation projects. Agencies showed differing levels of adaptation activity, and reported different barriers to adaptation and hurdles to implementation. Reasons for the differences and implications for future research and policy are discussed. AuthorsArchie, Kelli M., Dilling, Lisa, Milford, Jana B. and Pampel, Fred C. Year Published2012 PublicationEcology and Society LocationsDOI10.5751/ES-05187-170420 |
| Global and Local Concerns: What Attitudes and Beliefs Motivate Farmers to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change? | Haden, Van R. | 2012 |
KeywordsAgriculture/*legislation & jurisprudence, Attitude, California, *Climate Change, Conservation of Energy Resources/legislation & jurisprudence, *Culture, Humans, Motivation, Perception, Questionnaires, Rural Population AbstractIn response to agriculture's vulnerability and contribution to climate change, many governments are developing initiatives that promote the adoption of mitigation and adaptation practices among farmers. Since most climate policies affecting agriculture rely on voluntary efforts by individual farmers, success requires a sound understanding of the factors that motivate farmers to change practices. Recent evidence suggests that past experience with the effects of climate change and the psychological distance associated with people's concern for global and local impacts can influence environmental behavior. Here we surveyed farmers in a representative rural county in California's Central Valley to examine how their intention to adopt mitigation and adaptation practices is influenced by previous climate experiences and their global and local concerns about climate change. Perceived changes in water availability had significant effects on farmers' intention to adopt mitigation and adaptation strategies, which were mediated through global and local concerns respectively. This suggests that mitigation is largely motivated by psychologically distant concerns and beliefs about climate change, while adaptation is driven by psychologically proximate concerns for local impacts. This match between attitudes and behaviors according to the psychological distance at which they are cognitively construed indicates that policy and outreach initiatives may benefit by framing climate impacts and behavioral goals concordantly; either in a global context for mitigation or a local context for adaptation. AuthorsHaden, Van R., Niles, Meredith T., Lubell, Mark, Perlman, Joshua and Jackson, Louise E. Year Published2012 PublicationPLOS One LocationsDOI10.1371/journal.pone.0052882 |