Why Sustained Climate Change Mitigation Doesn’t Stand a Chance: A Conspiracy of Natural and Psychological Forces

Almost 90% of Americans are avoiding climate change activism.

Recent research shows that at least 40% of Americans are concerned or even alarmed about global warming, But only 13% say they have called their elected officials or joined an activist group. One question on many minds is, despite saying they are alarmed and concerned, why aren’t the other 87% of Americans demanding policy changes that would curb greenhouse gases?

Apathy

It is easy to attribute climate activism avoidance to apathy. By definition, apathy is indifference, lack of interest, concern, or enthusiasm. That would seem to explain it. Yet the same survey, done by YPCC shows that 29% say they are indeed concerned about global warming. If they are concerned then that would mean that they shouldn’t be apathetic. Maybe they are concerned and they behave as if they are apathetic because something else is going on.

Per Espen Stoknes, in his book, What We Think About When we try not to Think About Global Warming, says that a lot of people are depressed about climate destabilization and environmental damage. Apathy can be one symptom of depression and maybe people are concerned and alarmed but depressed about it and therefore act apathetic.

Read the Medium story by Glenn Fray Jnr - “Why Sustained Climate Change Mitigation Doesn’t Stand a Chance: A Conspiracy of Natural and Psychological Forces.”

Facts alone will not win a factual debate, particularly abour global warming

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limate change is a factual issue, but facts alone are not enough to convince people to act on what is a complex and contrary problem.

This eight minute YouTube clip helps us understand the human contrariness involved in reaching a world-wide position on addressing what is the greatest challenge ever faced by humanity.

Watch “The Secrets of ‘The Climate Paradox’" based in the book “What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming: Toward a New Psychology of Climate Action”  by Per Espen Stoknes.

Talking about why so many remain unconcerned about climate change

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orwegian psychologist Per Espen Stoknes has studied why so many people have remained unconcerned about climate change.

In a Yale Environment 360 interview, he talks with Richard schiffman about the psychological barriers to public action on climate and how to overcome them.

Per Espen Stoknes, a Norwegian psychologist and economist, has been doing a lot of thinking about a question that has bedeviled climate scientists for years: Why have humans so far failed to deal with the looming threat posed by climate change?

Read the interview - “How Can We Make People Care About Climate Change?”

The debate's is over, now it is up to us to mobilize and act quickly, very quickly

Robert McLean

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he debate about whether or not humans have disrupted the world’s climate system is over, the facts are in and yes, unless we act quickly and decisively, humanity is heading toward trying times.



Per Espen Stoknes - he has
considered the intellectual
challenges of global warming.

However, reiterating the facts to illustrate what we have done and so what is happening has been shown to be not enough, not near enough.

Whether it be ideology or a deeper psychology malaise, few of us (and I include myself in this) have demonstrated sufficient intellectual and physical courage, for many reasons, to be a stalwart of the human mobilization required to match the unfolding dilemma poised to change life on earth.

University of Oslo educated psychologist, Per Espen Stoknes, who has also studied organizational theory, philosophy and mythology, has set out to untangle the psychology puzzle as to why we struggle with the acceptance of global warming.

The clinical and organizational psychologist and holds a senior lecturer position at BI Norwegian School of Management, has written about this  malady in his new book, “What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming: Toward a NewPsychology of Climate Action”.

An excerpt from the April published book is published by Alternet in a story headed: “How We Can Use Psychology To Help Fight Climate Change”.