New Zealanders more convinced of human blame, study finds

New Zealanders are becoming increasingly convinced that climate change is real and that human activity has caused it, according to research on Wednesday.

The study from Victoria University and the University of Auckland examined climate change beliefs over a six-year period from 2009.

"The two beliefs we investigated were if people believe climate change is real, and if people believe climate change is caused by humans," said study leader Doctor Taciano Milfont, of Victoria University.

"We found that the levels of agreement to both beliefs have steadily increased over the six-year period. This increase in belief has been most pronounced in more recent years, from about 2013 onward."

The study found 33 percent of New Zealanders strongly agreed climate change was real in 2009 while 4 percent strongly disagreed, with other respondents ranged over a spectrum in between.

In 2014, about 40 percent strongly agreed it was real and 2 percent strongly disagreed.

In 2009, 17 percent strongly agreed humans were the cause of climate change while 6 percent strongly disagreed, but in 2014, 26 percent strongly agreed and 3 percent strongly disagreed.

"Given that climate change beliefs and concerns are key predictors of climate change action, our findings indicate that a combination of targeted communications endeavors may successfully convey the urgency of the issue," said Milfont.

(China Daily 03/30/2017 page11)