Concern About Climate Change Rising

We Might Be Reaching 'Peak Indifference' On Climate Change

Clive Thompson, March 25, 2019 (Wired)

“…Three years ago, only 49 percent of Republicans thought [climate change is real], but by last December it was 64 percent…Last year, the percentage of those who say they’re ‘very worried’ about global warming shot up from 21 percent to 29 percent…[Those who’ve studied this shift say it’s because] the problem is now knocking on everyone’s front door: record-breaking heat and cold, ravaging hurricanes, rampaging wildfires in overdry forests…[Indifference seems to have peaked and started to diminish because climate change has] become too big to ignore…Often, when society is facing a problem that’s terrible but slow-growing, [w]e’re indifferent to the problem. Climate change isn’t the only example (think of digital privacy or income inequality), but it’s perhaps the toughest to crack…[because it seems that as] the crisis grows, our indifference grows too…

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…[But at some point, indifference] begins to decline—and panic emerges…[This may not help fix the problem if indifference becomes nihilism. There may] only a brief window to sell the public on a plan…This is why the stakes are so high in the debate over the Green New Deal…Six Democratic presidential candidates and] 81 percent of all Americans support the general concept, including—remarkably—57 percent of conservative Republicans…[But political] barriers to action loom. More Republicans may believe in climate change, but they don’t think it’s caused by humans…[and many say the Green New Deal lacks] tough-to-sell policy specifics (zero-emission transportation, job guarantees) or financial costs that the public might dislike…[But] all of us who want action on this, have to push hard now. It’s only when you reach the peak that you can see where you need to go.” click here for more

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