Climate change beliefs, decision-making and adaptation behaviors in agriculture
Rangelands cover over 50% of the land surface area in the western US, providing important economic, social, and environmental benefits. The resilience of western rangelands, however, is increasingly threatened by climate change and related impacts, including altered phenology and precipitation patterns, increased wildfire frequency and intensity, heightened pressure from invasive plants, and reduced winter snowpack. Despite these threats, many ranchers are skeptical about climate science. While much research suggests climate skepticism limits engagement in climate change action, other research has found that ranchers are engaging in climate adaptation regardless of climate beliefs. A critical examination of this discrepancy may clarify the extent to which climate skepticism matters for climate adaptation and may help cultivate more productive collaborations with agricultural communities to address climate change. (in review, Agriculture and Human Values)
We conducted semi-structured interviews with sheep and cattle ranchers in Idaho, Montana, and Oregon to examine how they perceive, experience, and adapt to climate change, and what opportunities and barriers exist for climate change adaptation
Key Findings
Ranchers observe and adapt to shifting local weather patterns but remain skeptical of anthropogenic climate change.
Despite high levels of adaptive capacity to more localized and immediate risk, ranchers are less committed to proactive climate change adaptations.
Ranchers believe politicization is driving claims about climate change, including the claim that the livestock industry is responsible for contributing climate change-causing greenhouse gas emissions.
Politicization and regulatory inflexibility may undermine adaptive capacity and pose barriers to climate engagement.
Collaborators
Vicken Hillis, Boise State University
Morey Burnham, Idaho State University
Hailey Wilmer, USDA-ARS
Including producers in conversations about climate and engaging their local knowledge, validating beliefs and identities, and tailoring climate-related messaging can increase producers’ climate engagement and contribute to improved climate programs and services for agricultural communities
