Issue: Climate Impacts

Winter storms are rocking much of the country (along with disinformation about the reality of climate change that can prey on our psychological biases). Here are some evidence-based tips on winter weather.

Extreme weather events like winter storm Fern offer a short window of opportunity when people are seeking information related to climate change. But while most Americans believe we are experiencing more extreme weather, many still don’t see it as driven by climate change. Climate communicators need to help people connect the dots.

Explore how communities can take care of each other’s needs equitably during a changing climate future.

Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) and the Climate Advocacy Lab fielded a statewide survey of Vermonters about attitudes towards their state’s Climate Superfund Act. We found that a majority of respondents agreed with the intention behind the law of holding fossil fuel companies financially accountable for climate damages incurred by the state. However, none of the messaging approaches we attempted seem very effective in increasing support for the policy. Qualitative responses suggest that the Act is not well-known and, while respondents favor corporate accountability, they also have concerns about the policy’s legality and government transparency. Notably, even among some of those who responded that they agree with the Climate Superfund, there was confusion about how fossil fuel companies contribute to climate-related impacts like flooding, suggesting the need for greater popular education around the chain of attribution. Distrust of government also surfaced as a concern about the Act.

Join us for our final Clean Energy Deep Dive of the year, featuring Clean Virginia, a group on the frontlines of the clean energy fight.

How a storm of false and misleading claims about extreme weather events spread unchecked on social media putting lives at risk.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls – including new polling on utility costs, Trump’s handling of energy costs and other energy and environmental issues, climate change impacts, and federal funding cuts.