The Social Capital Project Announces New Report on American Climate Attitudes, New Online Resource

The Social Capital Project of the Resource Innovation Group has just announced the release of a new report entitled American Climate Attitudes. The report provides analysis of public opinion trends and recommendations for climate practitioners regarding communication and engagement.

The report is based on the authors' experience as climate and environmental communicators and on a review of public opinion research and polling data over the last few years and compared these findings with trends since 1997.

The key findings are outlined along the seven major themes that emerged from the analysis:

• Basic Acknowledgment (I’m not sure what to believe.)
• Issue Understanding (Literacy versus ideology.)
• Concern (Not me. Not now.)
• Issue Priority (We may get to global warming after we take care of more urgent issues.)
• Categorizing the Issue (Energy, Economy, National Security, Climate or _______?)
• Trust in Messengers (It’s time to expand the choir.)
• Policy Solutions (Cap and what?)

The Social Capital Project is also announcing the development of its newest initiative, ClimateAccess.org. As a hub for practitioners, ClimateAccess.org will provide a robust collection of climate communication and behavior change resources, original case studies, and opportunities to connect with leading thinkers and colleagues via discussion forums, online tutorials and webinars.

ClimateAccess.org will be launched this summer with support from the Rutgers Initiative on Climate and Social Policy and the Stonehouse Standing Circle.