In this edition:
- An upcoming RFF event on geoengineering
- New results from the New York Times/RFF/Stanford University poll: Hispanics’ views on climate
- A discussion on the willingness of individuals to pay for climate mitigation measures
Geoengineering
Last week, the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released two assessments of techniques for managing climate change, including reflecting sunlight and removing and sequestering carbon dioxide. In a seminar next week co-hosted by RFF and the Forum for Climate Engineering Assessment, a panel of experts will review both NAS geoengineering reports. They will discuss the political and economic implications of the findings, as well as the opportunities and dangers posed by climate engineering decisions. Register now to attend the event or watch the live webcast.
Hispanics’ Views on Climate
Part two of a recent series in the New York Times on American opinions on climate change focuses on demographic patterns, highlighting that “Hispanics are more likely than non-Hispanic whites to view global warming as a problem that affects them personally.” The story also noted that Hispanics are “more likely to support policies . . . aimed at curbing” greenhouse gas emissions. The New York Times/RFF/Stanford University survey gauged American attitudes about a number of climate-related topics. To view the complete results—including the first installment of the series—visit www.rff.org/climatesurvey.
Climate Mitigation Payments
A “strong majority” of people from the New York Times/RFF/Stanford University poll also indicated that while they worry about climate change and support government regulation, they oppose increasing gasoline taxes or electricity prices. A related article questions “just how much they might be willing to pay” to reduce the risks of climate change.
In an international study, RFF’s Alan Krupnick and colleagues explain how willingness to pay to avoid the consequences of climate change “differs among and within countries.” They write: “For policymakers to maintain legitimacy in international negotiations, the costs that a country agrees to pay . . . must be accepted by the citizens who, in the end, will bear the costs of the reduction.”
