Convince public on climate to save planet: experts

A woman walks past fallen autumnal leaves in Russell Square in London, October 27, 2009.

LONDON (Reuters) - The public needs to be convinced about the threat of climate change so governments are under pressure to adopt strong policies and extend a U.N. pact to fight climate change in Copenhagen this December, experts say.

Persuading the public that the long-term effects of climate change could be averted by action now should be a top priority, psychology experts said at a climate change psychology conference in London this week.

Just two more high-level meetings of ministers from over 190 countries are scheduled before a climate summit in Copenhagen on December 7-18, and they are still haggling over a new deal.

"Progress can sometimes happen without much public involvement but climate change is not one of those issues," said Paul Stern of the U.S. National Research Council, which advises the U.S. government on issues such as health and science.

Scientists say rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, from greater fossil fuel use, mass deforestation and increased transportation, will lead not only to flooding, but widespread drought, famine and disease, especially in poor countries.

INCREASE CONCERN

Statistics have shown that people's interest in and understanding of climate change in certain countries has fallen recently, partly because the economic crisis has made the environment less of a priority.

Less than half of Britons believe climate change will affect them during their lifetime and less than a fifth think it will impact their children, a UK government survey found this month.

A Pew Research Center poll showed that 57 percent of Americans believe there is solid evidence of global warming, down from 71 percent last year.

Australian voters no longer see climate change as the top policy issue, ranking it seventh out of 10 possible foreign policy goals, an opinion poll found this month.

"The economic crisis has probably shifted people's value concerns away from the environment and toward their short-term economic self interest," Tim Kasser, psychology professor at Knox College in Illinois, told Reuters separately in an email.

Voters may also become disengaged due to overly scientific explanations, misinformation campaigns and even some media coverage, experts said.

"It's about making sure communications with the public are meaningful, immediate, tangible and concrete. Talking over people's heads results in disinterest or apathy," David Uzzell, environmental psychology professor at the University of Surrey, said on the fringes of the conference.

Current weather patterns do not necessarily cause the public immediate concern and the long-term impacts of climate change are not tangible and seem a long way off.

"Climate change doesn't necessarily fit with the usual ways of understanding the world. Seeing isn't necessarily believing but misleading," Stern told Reuters.

It is hoped that campaigns to involve the public more in the climate debate will raise understanding.

A website, hopenhagen.org, was launched in September to increase awareness of the U.N. summit.

(Editing by Sue Thomas)