Climate change: Identifying influences that provoke environmental activism

1. Climate change: Identifying influences that provoke environmental activism 1. Introduction This research explores the connectivity between interpretations of climate change and environmental activism, in a bid to aid the global challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, starting at a local scale. A small database was created to invite 672 people to take part in a four-month project, the Footsteps to Copenhagen Project (FTCP), in Truro, Cornwall, in a bid to mobilise people to support Ministers attending the United Nations Earth Summit in Copenhagen December, 2009. 3.Methodology After the FTCP, the database primarily offered an opportunity to survey the roots of individuals everyday habits and consideration for climate change. This enabled a chance to explore if people wished to continue making space in their lives for an extended period of communication, interaction & participation in the research. The second stage provided further opportunity to observe how the public would respond to logical & appropriate gaps in the related literature.  The analysis was designed to reveal the key features in the responses, to understand why they existed and by what mechanisms they were produced, to aid understanding of how situations may or may not lead to activism (Oliver, 2010). The penultimate experience took place at the University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus. Group A experienced a lecture & discussion, by Professor Catherine Brace: on Climate Change & The Local Landscape 6. Analysis Three themes emerged from the results that enabled personal effort ; Reassurance that endorsed the work people do already, to keep the ongoing carbon-reduced lifestyle a choice worth making. Responsibility fashioned by influence. Representation from trusted messengers, their presence, information and imagery. Within this realm, delivery of clear simple, clear messages, through experience within a stage where all are invited to participate, air views and learn by experience. 3001 Cornish Declarations made by *organisations and individuals, and 1261 Top Ten Pledges were delivered to Number 10 Downing St 5th December 2009 4. Experiences and data used The third stage invited participants to read an article, listen to a podcast and watch a short film, chosen by informed decisions based on the related literature. A fortnight later, divided into two groups, (A) Landscape, (B) IPCC, they attended a lecture and discussion at the University of Exeter Cornwall Campus. Group B experienced a lecture & discussion, by Professor Catherine Mitchell, on The Role of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2.Research Questions (1) What causes people to change, accept and take action on climate change (in parts, or as a whole)? (2) Does learning about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) change how people feel about what they already know about climate change? (3) Does thinking about the impacts of climate change on local landscapes alter how people feel about what they already know about climate change? (4) To what extent does regular exposure to new, positive, engaging, activism-provoking education create robust carbon cutting, measurable action? Article: The Peer Review Process Podcast: e.g. A 2007 Nature podcast talking to residents of the Carteret Islands, whose livelihoods are already threatened by climate change Film: e.g.about practical local adaptation initiatives (Group A), climate change and sea level, Isle of Scilly etc. by Professor Stephan Harrison (Group B). 7. Conclusions Activism: In-kind help from Truro Cathedral and Cornwall Council, a passionate committee, £6k, followed by 10 emails enabled 4488 carbon cutting actions*, with little effort. In comparison, carbon capture and storage, is estimated to cost €30-90 per tonne of carbon (McKinsey Report 2007). 28% of the original FTCP database, not affiliated to other groups used the Top Ten Pledges (100%) & signed the Declaration (92%). No new carbon-cutting activism occurred within the final group, however climate related behaviour became enhanced. Future research could explore: pledge experiences, carbon value, religious significance, off-line pledge activity, continued pledging including personal risk assessment, effects on memory and finally up scaling FTCP. 5. Results (1) Tracing roots of original inspirations revealed long-term in-built tendencies to reduce personal impact on the environment. (2&3) Participants found lectures interesting, inspiring and felt more connected to the complicated mechanics of the IPCC process or the climate in their backyard. Little connection was made about climate change and managing risks where participants live. (4) The series of ‘experiences’, encouraged people to act, inspired by experiencing different ideas and learning about the source of their creation, via the peer review process. People on the database were invited to an event in Truro Cathedral with a variety of speakers doing climate change related work, to make carbon cutting pledges, to join a March through Cornwall and to continue with follow up research. 8. References Film Image: Climate Change Hearings - Ursula Rakova Carteret Islands http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9j7lONet5s Accessed 18/08/11 Film Image: Changing Climate Changing Business http://vimeo.com/4077089 Accessed 10/12/09 Film Image: E-Day 2009: Dr Stephan Harrison: Sea level rise in South West UK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q82KYzH6Fwo Accessed 01/11/09 McKinsey Report, (2007). Carbon Capture & Storage: Assessing the Economics http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/file.php/1080/Mckinsey_2007_ccs_assessing_the_economics.pdf Accessed 14/04/11 Oliver, P. (2010). Understanding the Research Process. University of Huddersfield. SAGE Publications Ltd. Chap 1 & 2 560022988