中国公众对全球气候变化认知与支持减缓气候变化政策研究--基于全球调查数据和与美国比较视角

Public Perception of Climate Change and Their Support of Climate Policy in China:Based on Global Surveys and in Comparison with USA

公众对气候变化的认知影响个人和家庭限制温室气体排放、支持减缓气候变化的政策措施等。基于5次全球调查数据和与美国的对比,分析了中国公众对气候变化的认知、减缓气候变化支付意愿和对气候政策的支持。分析表明中国大部分公众听说过气候变化,认为人类活动是气候变化的重要原因,但对气候变化深层原因了解不够;大部分公众认为气候变化对自然灾害的发生、降水和水资源、食物种类等带来了很大不利影响,进而担忧气候变化,认为气候变化问题很严重;大部分公众认为限制温室气体排放是国际社会共同的责任,应该立即采取行动限制温室气体排放,包括改变生活方式、接受较高的能源价格、保护森林、取消政府对私家车的补贴、提高机动车的能效等。最后讨论了进一步需要研究的问题。

Public opinion on climate change influences greenhouse gas emission of individuals and households and their support of climate policy.Based on five global surveys(Pew Global Attitudes Project Survey 2006, BBC World Service 2007,World Public Opinion 2009,BBC World Service and GlobeScan 2009,and World Bank 2009),this article compared public opinion on climate change and support for climate policy between China and USA.Surveys showed that about four-fifth of Chinese respondents heard about climate change and believed that human activity was a significant cause of climate change,whereas more American respondents heard about climate change and less believed that human activity was a significant cause of climate change. About two-thirds of Chinese respondents thought that climate change has already affected our life,whereas only one-third of American respondents held this view.If no actions are taken to mitigate climate change,more than four-fifths of Chinese respondents believed that future climate change will have significant,negative influences on the likelihood of natural disasters,rainfall and available water resources and the types of food,whereas American respondents had a more positive perception.Chinese respondents had greater worry about climate change than American ones,and 70% of Chinese respondents supported urgent actions to limit emission of greenhouse gases,including change in individual life style and behavior,acceptance of higher energy costs, preserving or expanding forested areas,gradual increase in fuel efficiency of automobiles and gradual reduce of government subsidies that favor private transportation,whereas less American respondents supported such actions.90% of Chinese respondents thought that the central government should place a high priority on addressing climate change,whereas less than 50% of American respondents held this view,and more than two-thirds of both Chinese and American respondents took the view that both rich and poor countries should take measures to address climate change.Finally,future studies were discussed.