Three papers explore aspects of environment, with a climate change video as a bonus

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Thomas Dietz, professor of sociology and environmental science and policy and assistant vice president for environmental research, has co-authored three papers out recently, all exploring different aspects of how environmental issues mesh with human elements, from public opinion to the global use of resources.

He also is is featured in a National Academies of Science video "Advancing the Science of Climate Change.

The three papers:

Understanding Public Opinion on Climate Change: A Call for Research. Environment Magazine, July/August 2011 edition

Growing confidence among scientists about the scientific consensus of climate change has not translated into a public consensus within the United States. Indeed, numerous polls indicate a general decline in public acceptance of climate change. Assuming more information will lead to greater public acceptance of the reality and seriousness of climate change and greater support for related policies is overly simplistic. A great deal is known about the public’s views of climate change, but for effective communication and development of public support for climate policies more research is needed.

Environmentally efficient well-being: Is there a Kuznets curve? Applied Geography, online and the January 2012 issue

An exploration of the relationships between the affluence of a nation and the stress that affluence places -- or alleviates -- on the environment.

It’s a Material World: Trends in Material Extraction in China, India, Indonesia, and Japan. Nature and Culture, Summer 2011 issue

Trends since 1980 are examined on on material extraction in China, India, Indonesia, and Japan — which together contain more than 40 percent of the world’s population — to assess the environmental consequences of modernization.

The NAS climate change video:

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