Faith that science will solve environmental problems: does it hurt or help?

Abstract

The International Social Survey Program (ISSP) conducted surveys in 32 countries for the 2010 environmental module, which followed ISSP environmental surveys in 2000 and 1993. Questions about people’s faith in science in all three surveys allow an examination of trends in both faith in science and the relationships between these beliefs and attitudes toward the environment and environmental action. Science is positively regarded on the whole, but people are hesitant about the ability of science to solve environmental problems. There is an increased coherence in attitudes opposed to both science and economic growth among a segment of the population. Faith in science and concern for the environment are still positively connected for many people, but these feelings may be accompanied by an increasing malaise about the ability to reverse deteriorating environmental conditions. Those with a belief in science express more willingness to act to protect the environment.

Keywords:

• faith in science
• environmental concern
• environmental action
• International Social Survey Program

Notes

1. On uranium, see Pentland (2011); on AIDS issue, see All Africa (2012); on the global warming issue, see Environmental Protection Agency (2012).

2. Factor analysis is a statistical technique that searches for underlying patterns in the correlations between variables (in this case, between the attitudes mentioned) and reduces them to the minimum number possible, in order to reveal a background structure to what may sometimes be a confusing array of individual relationships. The numbers in the table are ‘factor loadings’ that represent the correlation of the items with the underlying factor. The table presents a varimax rotation based on a pairwise deletion of missing data.

3. These questions are found in the Appendix: Q10a, 10b, and 10c have been used to create a six-point index. Strong agreement with the environmentally sensitive answer option to these questions is given two points, and agreement one point, for a potential total of six.

4. The index uses items 9a, 9b, and 9c, which are described in the article Appendix. Strong agreement indicating faith in science is given two points, and agreement one point, for a total of six in the index.