The earth's climate and weather patterns are growing wilder, and ordinary citizens are feeling their effects. That's according to about 75% of Hoosier residents who believe climate change is happening, and many have taken steps in their personal lives to deal with those changes. A majority of Hoosiers responding also support public funding to mitigate the effects of climate change if the cost is borne either by wealthier residents or by industries that have the greatest direct responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions.
These are among the findings of the Hoosier Life Survey, which was administered and compiled in late 2019 by the Environmental Resilience Institute at Indiana University. The institute's research team gathered data from more than 2,700 Hoosiers statewide who responded to the survey, which was designed to measure their beliefs about climate change and their attitudes on protecting the Earth.
The report is full of information about the beliefs, attitudes and political affiliations of Hoosier residents that should point the way toward a serious, civil conversation.
About a third of respondents reported experiencing recent increases in adverse signs of environmental change, specifically heavy rain, hot days and increasing numbers of mosquitoes. They also reported taking some basic steps to improve their household's ability to withstand extreme weather (planting shade trees, adding insulation, installing programmable thermostats), but many reported they would like to do more to protect their homes and families.
