Rural Western Australians attitudes to climate change, climate change science and governance

Abstract

Researching southwest WA farming communities attitudes to climate change (n=411) identified three typologies of ‘Acceptors’, ‘Uncertains’ and ‘Sceptics’ underpinned by extent of experience. ‘Acceptors’ valued science’s knowledge and believed climate change was a human induced threat. ‘Uncertains’ were unsure of science’s knowledge and if climate change was human induced and a threat. ‘Sceptics’ with more experience than the other two clusters did not value science’s knowledge; believed climate change was natural and not a threat.