Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Climate sceptics and climate believers : climate change beliefs and intergroup perceptions in a Swedish context

Selaru, Tinela LU (2018) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20181
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract (Swedish)
The climate change debate in Sweden seems to be settled with most societal stakeholders accepting
the climate science tenets and supporting climate action. However, a closer look will reveal that
even Sweden hosts a community of sceptics who question the causes, consequences of climate
change and the need for expansive mitigation action. Literature reveals that there needs to be more
focus on the sceptic phenomenon, in order to understand the broader landscape of the climate
debate. To fill this gap, this study investigates the motivations of climate change beliefs as well as
intergroup perceptions among two opposing opinion groups: climate change sceptics and climate
change believers. The data was collected through interviews with... (More)
The climate change debate in Sweden seems to be settled with most societal stakeholders accepting
the climate science tenets and supporting climate action. However, a closer look will reveal that
even Sweden hosts a community of sceptics who question the causes, consequences of climate
change and the need for expansive mitigation action. Literature reveals that there needs to be more
focus on the sceptic phenomenon, in order to understand the broader landscape of the climate
debate. To fill this gap, this study investigates the motivations of climate change beliefs as well as
intergroup perceptions among two opposing opinion groups: climate change sceptics and climate
change believers. The data was collected through interviews with ten respondents, five from each of
the two groups. The results reveal various individual and group-based belief factors and align with
previous evidence in existing literature. The findings add a comparative element to the data and find
several similarities and differences between the thoughts processes between members of the
opposite groups. The intergroup perception findings suggest low interaction and understanding
between the contesting groups and a need and potential for a more democratic and inclusive
deliberative dialogue towards decision-making, rather than forced consensus and alienation of
sceptic groups. This study could inform sustainability scientists in their further endeavors to
mitigate conflicts within the climate debate, in order to achieve more efficient climate action plans,
which would consider various values and interests among the public. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Selaru, Tinela LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20181
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
climate change, climate change sceptics, climate debate, intergroup perceptions, sustainability science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2018:023
language
English
id
8947522
date added to LUP
2018-06-10 22:41:58
date last changed
2018-06-10 22:41:58
@misc{8947522,
  abstract     = {{The climate change debate in Sweden seems to be settled with most societal stakeholders accepting
the climate science tenets and supporting climate action. However, a closer look will reveal that
even Sweden hosts a community of sceptics who question the causes, consequences of climate
change and the need for expansive mitigation action. Literature reveals that there needs to be more
focus on the sceptic phenomenon, in order to understand the broader landscape of the climate
debate. To fill this gap, this study investigates the motivations of climate change beliefs as well as
intergroup perceptions among two opposing opinion groups: climate change sceptics and climate
change believers. The data was collected through interviews with ten respondents, five from each of
the two groups. The results reveal various individual and group-based belief factors and align with
previous evidence in existing literature. The findings add a comparative element to the data and find
several similarities and differences between the thoughts processes between members of the
opposite groups. The intergroup perception findings suggest low interaction and understanding
between the contesting groups and a need and potential for a more democratic and inclusive
deliberative dialogue towards decision-making, rather than forced consensus and alienation of
sceptic groups. This study could inform sustainability scientists in their further endeavors to
mitigate conflicts within the climate debate, in order to achieve more efficient climate action plans,
which would consider various values and interests among the public.}},
  author       = {{Selaru, Tinela}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Climate sceptics and climate believers : climate change beliefs and intergroup perceptions in a Swedish context}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}