Media Advisory For Immediate Release Climate Honesty – Ending Climate Brightsiding
Jem Bendell, Ye Tao and Paulina Aldunce
When:
Description: Some of the most worrying science is downplayed in formal processes. Some scientists have believed that such an approach is best to encourage action. Yet the past thirty years of not bending the emissions curve indicates otherwise, as does the rise of climate activism that cites the bad-to-worst case scenarios. Current data on emissions, atmospheric concentrations, global temperatures, and widening impacts are frightening. Downplaying issues such as the reduction of global dimming due to cleaner air from efforts towards netzero would be neither scientific nor ethical. Yet many well-funded and influential organizations criticize people, particularly the young and the poor, for being ‘too negative’ about the current and future impacts of climate chaos. This form of ‘climate brightsiding’ distorts and limits the climate agenda. For instance, projects like MEER target these bad situations more clearly than approaches and technologies which currently receive commercial investment and public subsidy. More honesty with the public can start from professionals recognising and ending their own cognitive dissonance. This session ends with the declaration of a Scholars’ Oath to the Future. Panelists:
Dr. Jem Bendell
Dr. Ye Tao
Professor Dr. Paulina Aldunce
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