Document Type

Research Report

Publication Date

9-2020

Keywords

Climate Change, Racial Disparities, Climate Preparedness, Equity

Disciplines

Environmental Studies | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Public Health | Sociology | Urban Studies and Planning

Abstract

A growing body of research finds that climate change places a disproportionate burden on communities of color in the United States. In spite of this evidence, important discussions taking place about climate change- such as how it is experienced, which policy solutions are most critical, and how we can prepare for and adapt to its impacts- often leave out the voices of the very communities most affected. In Massachusetts, for instance, numerous statewide surveys have gathered information about residents ' attitudes and beliefs about climate change, but to date, no studies have been designed to include the views of a large sample of residents of color. This deficiency is particularly striking in urban areas such as Greater Boston, in which people of color are a large and growing portion of the population. As a result, many policy debates are taking place, and decisions are being made in the absence of good data about the opinions of large and critically important segments of the population. This report from the Sustainable Solutions Lab at UMass Boston, with support from the Hyams Foundation, addresses this gap for Greater Boston. It presents the results of a survey administered by the MassINC Polling Group to more than 900 Asian American, Black, Latino/a, and white residents in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, and Winthrop. By engaging in a systematic effort to secure robust samples from communities of color (at least 200 responses from each group), the data reported here establish a baseline of perspectives from these communities. The findings represent a broad accounting of the views of communities of color in Greater Boston, and they reveal some shared views across racial groups, as well as key differences. The goal of this survey is to bring a more nuanced view of perspectives on climate change in the Greater Boston region and, ultimately, to provide an impetus for future chroniclers of public opinion about climate change to include the important and too-often silenced views of residents of color.

Community Engaged/Serving

Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. //scholarworks.umb.edu/engage

Publisher

Sustainable Solutions Lab

Download

Share

COinS