A new statewide survey has revealed that most Hoosiers believe climate change is happening and support efforts to address the impact of climate change.
This is part of the Indiana University Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge initiative.
Some residents reported seeing more flooding, agricultural damage, unpredictable weather patterns and infrastructure deterioration, like potholes due to freezing and thawing conditions.
Three out of four Hoosiers believe climate change will have a negative impact on the state’s economy and support measures to help ease the impact of these environmental events.
A team of more than 120 researchers funded by IU’s Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenger initiative are working to predict the short- and long-term impact of climate change, identifying best practices for adaptation, and equipping policymakers and civic leaders with the information they need to make effective decisions.
Other key findings include:
– 65% of Indiana residents believe more strongly than they did five years ago that climate change is happening.
– Three out of five Hoosiers believe climate change is already harming people in the U.S.
– Two out of three Indiana residents agree that increased flooding poses a threat to Indiana communities. Clear majorities of Hoosiers agree that increased drought (59%) and hotter summers (64%) pose a threat to Indiana agriculture.
– Indiana residents also greatly underestimate the level of their fellow Hoosiers’ beliefs in climate change. While four out of five Hoosiers believe climate change is happening to some extent, those surveyed said they believe on average that about 56% of other Indiana residents believe climate change is happening, whether caused by human activity or not.
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(This story was originally published on April 22, 2019)
