Does tomorrow ever come? Disaster narrative and public perceptions of climate change. Public Understanding of Science 15

• Main Authors: Thomas Lowe, Katrina Brown, Suraje Dessai, Miguel De França Doria, Kat Haynes, Katharine Vincent
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: North Atlantic; North atlantic Thermohaline circulation
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.462.7575; http://peer.ccsd.cnrs.fr/docs/00/57/10/94/PDF/PEER_stage2_10.1177%2F0963662506063796.pdf

transformation of the Earth’s climate into a new ice age, playing upon the uncertainty surrounding a possible North Atlantic thermohaline circulation (Gulf Stream) shutdown. This paper investigates the impact of the film on people’s perception of climate change through a survey of filmgoers in the UK. Analysis focuses on four issues: the likelihood of extreme impacts; concern over climate change versus other global problems; motivation to take action; and responsibility for the problem of climate change. It finds that seeing the film, at least in the short term, changed people’s attitudes; viewers were significantly more concerned about climate change, and about other environmental risks. However, while the film increased anxiety about envi-ronmental risks, viewers experienced difficulty in distinguishing science fact from dramatized science fiction. Their belief in the likelihood of extreme events as a result of climate change was actually reduced. Following the film, many viewers expressed strong motivation to act on climate change. How-ever, although the film may have sensitized viewers and motivated them to act, the public do not have information on what action they can take to mitigate climate change. 1.