Climate Change in China : Exploring Informants' Perceptions of Climate Change through a Qualitative Approach

Abstract: Climate change is not only a natural phenomenon, but also a global social issue. Many studies try to explore the mechanisms behind climate change and the consequences of climate change, and provide information for developing the measures to mitigate or adapt to it. For example, the IPCC reviews and assesses climate-change-related scientific information produced worldwide, thus aiming to support decision-making from a scientific perspective. However, though various international and regional climate change policies are developed to combat climate change, yet the implementation of climate change policies need to be further improved, especially requiring active public engagement in taking actions on climate change. The policies regarding saving energy and reducing emissions are closely related to people’s daily life, which requires the public actively change their consumption habits and lifestyle. China, as the biggest GHG emitter, is stressed to reduce its emissions during previous climate negotiations. This thesis emphasizes the severity of climate change in China through reviewing relevant studies and visualizing China’s future climate change, which meanwhile points out the necessity of addressing climate change in China. In addition, China’s climate change policies and the achievements thereof is critically reviewed, which reveals the existing problems and difficulties of policy implementation, and thereby emphasizes the importance of public engagement in implementing climate change policy. Moreover, 26 informants have been interviewed through China’s biggest social media – Tencent QQ, through which informants’ perceptions of climate change, expressed attitudes to and reported actions of addressing climate change is analysed. Furthermore, barriers to informants’ engagement with climate change is exposed. Accordingly, this thesis discusses several suggestions for enhancing public engagement with climate change.