A recent poll by Ipsos Mori has revealed that the majority of Britons are still not convinced of the effects of climate change. Have they looked outside recently?
The pollsters interviewed two thousands adults and found that issues such as terrorism, crime and other public violations were a greater priority to most people. That's hardly news, people will always place immediate problems as top priorities...Sure the planet's dying, maybe it is our fault but it'll still be around for hundreds of years at least, whereas the fortunate Jihadist might blow you up tomorrow.
But which one is a certainty?
Well, we're not even convinced about that...Despite consensus amongst the scientific community, 56 per cent of us wrongly think that there is debate over the destructive impact of human emissions. Wishful thinking won't make the issue disappear I'm afraid...
You can see how people might see climate change as an over-hyped, fashionable cause, what with celebrities and cool young things everywhere rushing to purchase environmentally friendly merchandise, especially if it broadcasts their hip young status. But the public has become so familiar with marketing and media over-exposure (and the apathy that it spawns) that it has become a convenient excuse to trot out instead of facing up to climate change. It's ironic that 21st century Britain, an globally savvy first world country that runs on information, prefers to refute the facts rather than bite the bullet and walk to work or chuck a carton in the recycling.
Don't get me wrong, nobody gets off Scott free - least of all myself. I enjoy a sport which involves planes going up and down all day purely so people can jump out - but to counter this shameless hedonism I recycle like a demon, support green initiatives and ruthlessly pressure others to do the same..
Mori's top researcher Phil Downing spelled out the painful truth: "On behaviour, we're taking some action, but only around the margins of our lifestyles and when it suits us - most of us remain fair weather environmentalists."
What an innuendo.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
I decided a while back that I am not a climatoligst, nor have I devoted my entire career to the subject therefore my views on climate change should be taken from those people who are and do. The IPCC is a pretty good place to start. It annoys me when people form their ignorant view from one piece of media they took a fancy to .
Having said that I don't think we should completely end the debate and further research can only enhance our understanding of the problem.
Fortunately it does seem to be the fashionable thing at the moment which has even infiltrated into politics with both of the major parties promoting their green credentials. Although with a maximum 5 year term, there is a lack of incentive for the government and I imagine if a recession occurred priorities would shift quite quickly.
In reality the solution will not rely on the individual but will have to come from the state. It's simple really the polluter must pay.
I would be intrigued to know whether your demon recycling offset your frequent death jumps. Great I've just thought of another excuse for not trying skydiving. "It's a green thing sorry"
Regardless if the climate change shit is happening or not, we should all try to be better humans anyway and stop making the Indians cry!
Sorry, forgot that you may not know the Indian reference. In the US about 10 years or so back, commercials of a Native American man crying while some white dude threw garbage out of his car window was being aired.
Jenny: Awwww....that's horrible...
James: Mm, I've often thought about the carbon foot print of your average skydiver (but bear in mind jump ships don't emmit half of the crap that comes out commercial planes)...probably about the same about as your average F1 driver....
Ha Ha..Ha Haaa.
So it's whose hobby is the greenest now is it?
Formula 1 isn't my number one hobby or anything, because that would be pretty sad as I only watch it and not participate. But since you brought up the subject all the F1 teams are carbon neutral, meaning they offset all the emissions used not only in the race but travelling around the world for the races etc.
The Honda team took the environmental thing one step further with the sponsorless Earth car which you can see here
James, please don't hurt me, the comment wasn't actually meant as a personal dig (promise) just an observation....Is it safe to come back out into the blogoshpere...? :)
Okay, but only if you've learnt your lesson.
Post a Comment