A new study spanning 26 countries highlights a political divide in trust toward climate scientists, revealing that right-leaning individuals generally mistrust scientists compared to their left-leaning counterparts, especially in wealthier nations.
A comprehensive 26-country study has uncovered a stark political divide in trust toward climate scientists, with those on the political left exhibiting significantly more trust than their right-leaning counterparts. The study, conducted by researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, highlights a notable gap in trust that is particularly pronounced in wealthier democracies and English-speaking nations.
“While climate scientists currently maintain fairly high levels of public trust — ranging from 58 percent in North America to 84 percent in South Asia — that trust is not held evenly across all groups,” senior author Kai Ruggeri, a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, said in a news release. “The political divide in trust isn’t inevitable. In fact, the popularity of most climate policies is dramatically underrated, even across that divide. To have a better balance, we must engage all political perspectives and foster trust that transcends ideology.”
Significant Findings and Implications
The survey analyzed data from 10,641 participants across 26 nations, finding that political ideology significantly influences trust in climate scientists. While right-leaning individuals demonstrated lower trust in 22 of the countries studied, notable exceptions included China and Indonesia, where left-leaning respondents were more skeptical.
In Egypt and Georgia, political views appeared to have no significant impact on trust, indicating that climate change is less politicized in these regions.
The study also found intriguing patterns correlated with national development and democracy. Countries with higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions and stronger democratic systems exhibited the most significant ideological divides in trust.
Researchers refer to this as the “post-industrial paradox,” where developed nations see science as less essential to progress, potentially fostering skepticism. Moreover, these nations often experience well-funded misinformation campaigns from fossil fuel interests, which further undermines public trust in climate science.
Educational and Demographic Insights
The researchers noted a slight trend where the connection between political ideology and distrust of climate scientists was marginally stronger among more educated individuals. This suggests that higher education might enable selective interpretation of scientific data through an ideological lens, exacerbating the partisan divide.
A few limitations in the study include a sample skewed towards younger, educated women, which may not represent the broader population. Additionally, the use of simple yes/no questions about trust and political views might not capture the full complexity of these issues.
The distinction between trusting climate science versus climate scientists remains an area for future exploration.
Strategies for Bridging the Trust Gap
The study’s findings underscore the urgent need for tailored climate communication strategies that bridge ideological divides.
To foster greater trust among right-leaning audiences, the researchers recommend emphasizing the immediate impacts of climate change rather than long-term consequences.
Partnering with trusted local figures, such as community leaders or political representatives, can also help convey the scientific consensus in a more authentic and relatable manner.
“Failing to consider the perspectives of entire populations will inevitably create roadblocks for evidence-based policies. Closing this gap requires meeting people where they are, through messengers and messages that resonate across ideological lines,” added Ruggeri. “What is especially unique about this study is that it was led entirely by students and early career researchers, who took the initiative to make creative use of data on an extremely important topic.”
The study authors, all connected through the Junior Researcher Programme and Columbia’s Global Behavioral Science Initiative, emphasize the importance of engaging diverse political perspectives to achieve balanced and effective climate policies.