Gauging Students' Understanding of and Attitudes Towards the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC): Perceptions Across Academic Disciplines


Presenter: Adeline Dahms Beckert

Faculty Sponsor: Christine Crago

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Environmental Science and Sustainability

Session: Poster Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM, Auditorium, A82

ABSTRACT

With climate change as one of the most pervasive issues of contemporary times, literacy in climate topics is crucial for decision-makers in all professional fields. Undergraduate students, poised to enter the workforce, serve as the leaders of tomorrow, making climate knowledge an essential part of the required toolkit for impactful decision making. Despite the need for climate literate students, little is known about how well students grasp important climate concepts, such as the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC). Carbon dioxide is the main driver of climate change, and the SCC is a way to monetize the economic damages of emitting one additional ton of CO2 into the atmosphere. The SCC serves as a way to measure the costs and benefits of either reducing or increasing carbon emissions; it is the cornerstone of responsible decision-making in the context of the climate crisis. This thesis seeks to understand how well students across academic disciplines understand the SCC, as well as their attitudes towards its implications and importance. Undergraduate students enrolled at UMass Amherst were invited to participate in a Qualtrics survey. The survey asked students to share their academic backgrounds and knowledge and opinions on the SCC. Survey results were analyzed to gauge student perceptions and valuations of the cost of carbon emissions, in order to gain insight into overarching climate literacy levels in undergraduate students across academic disciplines. The results of this thesis can be used to inform future curriculum enhancements in an effort to create more informed future leaders.

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