It’s Our Fault: A Global Comparison of Different Ways of Explaining Climate Change

Abstract International surveys suggest people increasingly agree the climate is changing and humans are cause. One reading of this that have adopted scientific point view. Based on a sample 28 ethnographic cases we argue conclusion might be premature. Communities merge explanations with local knowledge in hybrid ways. This possible because both discourses blame as cause changes they observe. However, specific factors or agents blamed differ each case. Whereas scientists identify carbon dioxide producers particular world regions, indigenous communities often themselves, since, many lay ontologies, weather typically perceived phenomenon, which rewards punishes for their actions. Thus, while survey results show approval view, agreement understood differently leads to diverging ways allocating meaning about weather.