Fear’s Role in Climate Change Issues

Climate Change Legislation and Fear

On the other side of the fence from climate change denial is the environmental controversy between two groups of environmentalists (and economists) about the best way to handle climate change economically and politically right now — there are some environmentalists who want the climate bill that is in Congress to pass and, similarly, want international cap and trade legislation to pass, and there are other environmentalists who do not support these items as they are being proposed.

What is the controversy?

Some think that proposed cap and trade legislation (in the US and internationally) is the only hope for preventing climate change. Others think it is a non-green option that will do more harm than good. For a rather good debate around this issue, read the comments that follow the recent Grist article “Annie Leonard misses the mark in her new video, ‘The Story of Cap and Trade’” (as well as the article itself and the video by Annie Leanord — “The Story of Cap and Trade“).

Again, an issue here driving at least some of the positions on this topic is simply the feeling of fear. It is not the logic of one option being better than others in some cases, but the pure logic of fear, which is not actually logic.

The cap and trade legislation that is proposed is a sound political compromise to some, but to others it is simply an act of fear. Similarly, to some, dropping the cap and trade idea is the best option, and to others that is only an act of fear. Which is the best option? I think it is not clear to a lot of people.

I think things would clear up a lot, though, if people dropped the fear component and only looked at the issues for what they actually are. However, that would be asking for serious personal effort and introspection. Everyone can do that for themself only.

Overcoming Fear in Social Movement History

If you look at some of the huge social movement successes of the last century, you can see that they went far beyond fear to achieve their goals. Civil rights activists went beyond the fear of murder, being beaten, having their houses burnt down, and so on to make progress in civil rights for all. Gay rights activists went through similar situations to achieve some of their ends. And how many nations went through similar fears to achieve their freedom?

If we environmentalists are to achieve our aims — a safe and healthy environment for all — we also have to be willing to overcome such fears and different ones as well. This is an internal issue first, though.

Image Credit 1: Claudio.Ar via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 2: play4smee via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 3: tabrandt via flickr under a Creative Commons license
Image Credit 4: gorditojaramillo via flickr under a Creative Commons license

Pages: 1 2 3

Gerard Vaughan

Back in ’69, I decided to jump-across a fissure in the granite rocks of the Cornish coaast at Tintagel. I doubt that I shall ever see the place again to check, but as I recall, it looked JUST-about possible to remain un-smashed-up on the rocks and sea 100 foot below – if I got my maths and physics right, and didn’t “blow it” The gap was about 6 feet and the other side about 2 feet lower. I cannot recall checking to see if there was any way back, should I still be in a position to need it !
Yes, Maths and Physics – whatever they are / that is – maybe better than fear. Or not, as the case / inquest, may be.
http://www.capitansalsa.com Josue The Captain Cano

What a great article. Personally, i’m a vegetarian and for reasons mentioned in the article. Yes, it is true that by eating less meat or no meat at all your impact on the environment becomes less. Thank you for mentioning that. Also, don’t forget about the ice levels in the poles. They are going down.
http://nonpropro.org JOY

I have made decisions based upon fear(s) which have benefitted me greatly, without ramifications upon others. I feel/fear that logical/knowledge is a comprehensive meter that gauges a gauge. Bottom line, I fear 2012 has merit and this is prior to my finding out about the calendar – and I fear 2012 is a gauge.
http://www.stumbleupon.com/favorites/reviews/ Wavehunter

Love the article. And I agree with Josue that it’s good you mentioned meat. The official line is that the meat industry contributes 18% of greenhouse gases, but a recent article by those-in-the-know suggests the true figure may be 51%.

As well as fear, climate change is a collective action problem. To beat it we need to act together, which means we need to be organised. It makes little difference whether I drive a Hummer; it makes a lot of difference whether we all do. Thus we need to force our governments to coerce us into making the right decisions. Otherwise we’ll die waiting for someone else act.
Patricia

Thank you for the thoughtful article Zachery. I agree with Wavehunter’s above post; we all need to work together. I also agree that most people will not make sacrifices without government intervention of some kind. As far as meat consumption, quite a few prominent intellects have commented on the derogatory effect of eating our fellow creatures. Albert Einstein being one of them of course; I don’t have much hope of that changing in my lifetime.
Pingback: Addressing “Global Cooling” : EcoWorldly()
Pingback: Fear’s Role in Climate Change Issues « lightngreen()

ZacharyShahan.com

Tryin' to help the world, one letter at a time.