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All sections of society are failing
All sections of society should be working together to overcome the biggest threat that mankind has ever faced.
Instead, the evidence is that they are all failing.
There are widespread failures by
The evidence is that all groups are failing. It is hard to say who is most culpable because the failures are so interlinked, but those who are in paid roles should attract the most criticism.
- climate scientists and other experts
- government scientists
- national governments and local administrations
- the media
- businesses and oher organisations
- campaigning and protest groups
- citizens
The obligations
There is an obligation to cut greenhouse gas emissions radically and urgently, both according to international agreements, and according to the moral obligation to avoid causing harm to others - see document 100. But the evidence is that all sections of society are failing.Climate scientists and other experts
Climate scientists and other experts should be explaining the key points of the scientific consensus, and the implications for policy making, but there are failures in- trusting governments to act appropriately on the evidence
- not speaking up about government errors
- self-censoring [1]
- rogue individuals promoting alternative views without attempting to work towards a scientific consensus.
Government scientists
There are failures in- not faithfully reporting the science - e.g. the reports of the UK Climate Change Committee are not in line with the science and the Paris Agreement - see document 86
National governments and local administrations
There are failures in- a paternalistic style of decision making
- not taking actions that should be obvious
- taking wrong actions
- pretence and deceit
- lack of tranparency
- not engaging with criticism
- acting as if the priority is to preserve the privileged lifestyle of the richest people in the world
The media
There are failures in- failing to seek out and report on the scientific consensus
- failing to scrutinise governments
- repeating fallacies
- not dealing well with competing points of view.
Businesses and other organisations
There are failures in- not reducing emissions
- lobbying governments not to take effective action
- repeating fallacies
- deliberate deceit.
Campaigning and protest groups
There are failures in- fragmented efforts
- self censoring [1]
- inconsistent and contradictory messaging
- repeating fallacies
- not avoiding the superiority illusion.
Citizens
There are failures in- being too trusting of governments
- subserviant / docile
- not listening to campaigners and protesters
- repeating fallacies
- not reducing emissions.
Who is most responsible
It is hard to say who is most culpable because the failures are so interlinked, but those who are in paid roles should attract the most criticism.References
| [2] | Cown Prosecution Service Misconduct in Public Office https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/misconduct-public-office |
| [1] | Turning delusion into climate action - Prof Kevin Anderson, an interview (2020) Responsible Science https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/turning-delusion-climate-action-prof-kevin-anderson-interview |
First published: 16 Jan 2022
Last updated: 23 Sep 2023