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C. J. Li et al.
attention. He believes we need representatives from the city to participate and be good
leaders, and devote more resources to affect change-possibly with more education of
the community. He claimed to be very optimistic about climate change, hoping that
awareness spreads. He worries that until people are educated on the subject, nothing
can change.
Participant 2 believes the most important action on climate change is mitigating
public policy. He believes the community should be investing money and time into
reducing our output of greenhouse gases so that we can “live without guilt.” He
claims he has a high willingness to change in order to adapt to climate change. He
believes the community should be a leader in recognizing that climate change is
human caused and that we need to be as aggressive as possible in educating and
steering the community in the right direction. The City of Columbia council should
integrate CO 2 and greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the annual job review for
city operations. The City of Columbia initiated a city-wide Climate Adaptation and
Action Plan since 2017. He is personally willing and optimistic about change, but
after watching Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” he is very pessimistic. He believes
it is an inevitable reality.
Participant 3 believes that personal actions are the most effective action on climate
change, with each person in the community taking action and making considerate
choices. She is personally willing to make small and extreme changes in order to adapt
to climate change. She believes that personal behavior and mindful decision making
is important. For example, saying no to plastic bags and instead using reusable bags
at the grocery store. She mentioned she would enjoy meeting more people in the
community, if there was such an opportunity. She would like to see more interest
group meetings, with more people coming together or more events held. She is overall
very optimistic regarding climate change-she believes in people, especially people
of the Midwest. As more people are educated on the subject of climate change, more
people will start to care.
Participant 4 believes the most important adaptation to climate change is the community reducing its dependence on fossil fuels at a systematic level. At a personal
level, she believes in making lifestyle changes like using less electricity and using
shared transportation. She claims that the city needs to look at community needs
that are area specific, while remaining sensitive to marginalized populations. She
is optimistic about the future regarding climate change, but some days feels more
realistically pessimistic. Current events and news shift her attitude towards climate
change. She also mentioned “An Inconvenient Truth,” and her concern about the population’s capacity and will to do things and change. She is very optimistic regarding
today’s technology and research. Overall She enjoyed the forum, but concluded that
everyone there was “preaching to the choir,” and in order to affect change, we need
to reach audiences that do not show up at forums, and educate these people.
Participant 5 believes that the most important aspect of fighting climate change
is communicating with neighbors. It must be a group effort, and therefore the word
needs to get out to the entire community. When asked about willingness to change and
adapt to climate change, she claimed she is very willing to make big lifestyle changes.
She wants for and is encouraged by the city council in committing to reducing carbon
C. J. Li et al.
attention. He believes we need representatives from the city to participate and be good
leaders, and devote more resources to affect change-possibly with more education of
the community. He claimed to be very optimistic about climate change, hoping that
awareness spreads. He worries that until people are educated on the subject, nothing
can change.
Participant 2 believes the most important action on climate change is mitigating
public policy. He believes the community should be investing money and time into
reducing our output of greenhouse gases so that we can “live without guilt.” He
claims he has a high willingness to change in order to adapt to climate change. He
believes the community should be a leader in recognizing that climate change is
human caused and that we need to be as aggressive as possible in educating and
steering the community in the right direction. The City of Columbia council should
integrate CO 2 and greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the annual job review for
city operations. The City of Columbia initiated a city-wide Climate Adaptation and
Action Plan since 2017. He is personally willing and optimistic about change, but
after watching Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” he is very pessimistic. He believes
it is an inevitable reality.
Participant 3 believes that personal actions are the most effective action on climate
change, with each person in the community taking action and making considerate
choices. She is personally willing to make small and extreme changes in order to adapt
to climate change. She believes that personal behavior and mindful decision making
is important. For example, saying no to plastic bags and instead using reusable bags
at the grocery store. She mentioned she would enjoy meeting more people in the
community, if there was such an opportunity. She would like to see more interest
group meetings, with more people coming together or more events held. She is overall
very optimistic regarding climate change-she believes in people, especially people
of the Midwest. As more people are educated on the subject of climate change, more
people will start to care.
Participant 4 believes the most important adaptation to climate change is the community reducing its dependence on fossil fuels at a systematic level. At a personal
level, she believes in making lifestyle changes like using less electricity and using
shared transportation. She claims that the city needs to look at community needs
that are area specific, while remaining sensitive to marginalized populations. She
is optimistic about the future regarding climate change, but some days feels more
realistically pessimistic. Current events and news shift her attitude towards climate
change. She also mentioned “An Inconvenient Truth,” and her concern about the population’s capacity and will to do things and change. She is very optimistic regarding
today’s technology and research. Overall She enjoyed the forum, but concluded that
everyone there was “preaching to the choir,” and in order to affect change, we need
to reach audiences that do not show up at forums, and educate these people.
Participant 5 believes that the most important aspect of fighting climate change
is communicating with neighbors. It must be a group effort, and therefore the word
needs to get out to the entire community. When asked about willingness to change and
adapt to climate change, she claimed she is very willing to make big lifestyle changes.
She wants for and is encouraged by the city council in committing to reducing carbon
