Transcript Israeli Perceptions of Climate Change

Israeli Perceptions of
Climate change & Climate
change Policy
Lucy Michaels
Doctoral Candidate
Ben Gurion University
Supervisor: Professor Alon Tal
Israel CO2 emissions per sector
2001 figures
Israel CO2 emissions by sector (2001 figures)
Source: NNERC, Haif a University
Electricity
3%
Agriculture
Energy
6%
use in
Commercial
& Residential
37%
Industry
32%
Transport
22%
Policy challenges to address
current public behaviours:
• Transportation: 22% CO emissions is high
2
•
compared to global average of 14%. Partly due
to reliance on private transport. 62% of Israelis
commute private cars.
High energy demand: 32% out of 37% used
in households. Israelis are significant users of
energy-intensive appliances. Air conditioners are
40% of total electricity output in Summer.
Sources: Ministry of Environmental Protection; Ministry of National Infrastructure (2006 figures).
How much have you heard or
read about global warming or
climate change?
43.9
37.3
Just
heard name
A little
A fair
amount
A lot
5.5
7.5
Never heard
5.9
As you may know, the overall temperature of the earth
is increasing, sometimes called ‘global warming’ or
‘climate change’. Do you believe that human activity
such as transportation & industry, is or is not a
significant cause of climate change?
74.5
Not
significant
significant
cause
Don't know
15.7
9.8
From what you know about climate change,
do you think it poses significant threat, a
small threat or no threat to Israel?
54.1
27.5
16.5
Don't know
No impact
small
significant
2.0
As you may know, there is discussion in the global
community about whether it is necessary to take
measures to reduce the impact of human
activities thought to cause climate change.
Would you say that you believe that:
66.7
22.4
10.6
Don't know
Not
necessary
Modest
Coming years
Major steps
Very soon
0.4
In order to address the problem of climate change or
global warming, do you think it will be necessary to
For individuals in Israel to make changes in their
lifestyle and behaviour in order to reduce the
amount of climate changing gases they produce.
51.8
32.9
Definitely
not necessary
7.1
Probably not
necessary
Probably
necessary
Definitely
necessary
8.2
“it is difficult to imagine a more
supportive public opinion
environment for national leaders to
commit to climate action”.
BBC World Service Poll, Sept 2007
22,000 people in 21 countries
However, would Israelis change their
behaviours or pay more for gas and
electricity in order to reduce their CO2
emissions from energy use?
Would it be necessary to increase the cost of the
types of energy that cause climate change, such
as coal and oil/petrol, in order to encourage individuals
and industry to use less?
33.3
28.2
Definitely
not necessary
Probably
necessary
Definitely
necessary
Probably not
necessary
20.8
17.6
Here is a list of the possible lifestyle
changes that people might make in
order to reduce CO2 emissions. Would
you be willing to:
• 28% willing to use a car less
• 24% willing to take fewer flights
• 51% Reduce gas/ electricity use at home
• 56% Reduce water use at home
Note: Those with no access to cars or who do not fly are excluded from these figures.
Why a ‘gap’ between attitudes and
behaviours about climate change?
• Knowledge deficit?
• Personal beliefs
• Social norms
• Media representations
• Distant or close threat?
Preliminary conclusions
• Israelis are concerned & convinced but not
•
enough to change their way of life.
More effective communication needed to:
a) Present clear message
b) Show individual action makes a difference
c) Highlight simple energy saving measures
c) Show how issue is relevant locally
d) Present ‘low carbon future’ as positive &
popular step to meaningful, healthy & fair future
Carbon Taxation
65.2
56.9
43.1
34.8
no
yes
Revenue to renewable energy
no
yes
No rise in overall tax burden due
to tax cuts elsewhere