Climate change top of voters' minds in NSW election

Climate change is a key election issue for most people in NSW, polling shows, as the environment emerges as a more pressing concern for voters than hospitals, schools and public transport.

57.5 per cent of voters say they will be swayed by
climate change and environmental protection.

Exclusive Herald polling shows that 57.5 per cent of voters say they will be swayed by climate change and environmental protection when deciding who to vote for on March 23.

Read the story from The Sydney Morning Herald by Alexandra Smith - “Climate change top of voters' minds in NSW election.”

What might appear to be common sense is not always based on scientific evidence

The term “evidence” has a fascinating linguistic and social history – and it’s a good reminder that even today the truth of scientific evidence depends on it being presented in a convincing way.

The quest for scientific evidence can trace its
roots back to the classic masters of rhetoric.

As recent climate change scepticism shows, the fortunes of scientific evidence can be swayed by something as fleeting as a tweet.

But what does it even mean to speak of “scientific evidence”?

History reveals that scientific forms of evidence have rarely, if ever, been detached from rhetoric. In fact, the very idea of evidence has its origins within the context of classical rhetoric, the art of persuasion.

Read the piece from The Conversation by a Research Fellow from The University of Queensland,  James A. T. Lancaster - “What might appear to be common sense is not always based on scientific evidence.”