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New Book Release: How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate

  • 1.  New Book Release: How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate

    Posted 02-18-2015 15:34

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    New Release

    How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate

    by Andrew J. Hoffman
    Stanford University Press
    Order your copy
    Though the scientific community largely agrees that climate change is underway, debates about this issue remain fiercely polarized. These conversations have become a rhetorical contest, one where opposing sides try to achieve victory through playing on fear, distrust, and intolerance. At its heart, this split no longer concerns carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, or climate modeling; rather, it is the product of contrasting, deeply entrenched worldviews. This brief examines what causes people to reject or accept the scientific consensus on climate change. Synthesizing evidence from sociology, psychology, and political science, Andrew J. Hoffman lays bare the opposing cultural lenses through which science is interpreted. He then extracts lessons from major cultural shifts in the past to engender a better understanding of the problem and motivate the public to take action. How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate makes a powerful case for a more scientifically literate public, a more socially engaged scientific community, and a more thoughtful mode of public discourse.

    About the Author

    Andrew J. Hoffman is the Holcim (US) Professor and Faculty Director of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan.
    "One of the tallest orders of our day is to communicate effectively about global warming. Hoffman shows us how to talk about climate science and policy in ways that depolarize the debate and empower people to form their own opinions based on the scientific risks. This book is a valuable resource, and it comes at the right time." 
    - Ken Kimmell, President, Union of Concerned Scientists
    "Hoffman's book is a much-needed analysis of how humans process information-and how that messy mix of reason, emotion, and cultural influence shapes and reinforces our views on global climate change. Important reading for anyone who wants to influence public opinion and public policy on this crucial issue."
     -     Fred Krupp, President, Environmental Defense Fund
    Copyright © 2015 Erb Institute at the University of MIchigan, All rights reserved.