Oh, look, the Cult of Climastrology has now hijacked the verbiage of Bat Soup Virus. It’s not surprising, as they hijack everything
Flattening the climate curve using social learning
My first reaction to the comparison between the climate crisis and the pandemic: We cannot shelter in place for climate. Yet, symptoms are known. The physical repercussions of climate risk are very visible. So is the science. Regretfully, no vaccines nor tests would help in reversing climate change.
Restarting the communication clock on the urgency of climate action is an essential component of getting us to rein in the consequences. We have ample evidence — almost daily — of effective communications in times of crisis: the ones that work (for example, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s daily updates to New York state residents or Arne Sorenson’s COVID-19 message to Marriott’s associates) and those that will last even longer in people’s minds but for the opposite reason.
Communicating the facts continues to affect action more than the point of views of so called “influencers.”
Yet, they do not communicate actual facts that prove that the actions of mankind are mostly/solely responsible for the slight increase in global temperatures.
Rather, I choose to trust in “social learning” — borrowing from a neuroscience publication of mine in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Empirically, in periods of time when groups are called to make decisions in a state of ambiguity and extensive “known unknowns,” decisions are more likely to be skewed to the near-term comfort zone and going for “good enough” solutions. Suboptimal, in both short and long term, as group decisions end up supporting individual decision makers. (Hint: This already could be happening as we see diverging scenarios in the debate regarding the post-COVID return to business as usual.)
How far can we go in terms of mobilizing resources (people and capital) if we restart the clock on effectively communicating climate change priorities? I think the real lesson of COVID-19 is that society can respond forcefully and collectively when enough of us are well-informed of what needs to be done, and the government supports individual action with laws, ordinances and other policy actions.
It’s not really this difficult. If you put actual facts out there, most people will follow them. If you have to employ psychological tricks, that shows this is a scam propagated by a cult. One which also refuses to practice what they preach.
The difference between a pandemic and global warming is acuteness. The threat (regardless of how small) that you or a loved one could die in 2 weeks from a virus is more urgent than the more likely threat that human societies will be overturned in 20, 40 or 80 years.