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Something I've been thinking about:
Where are we, on citizen support for climate strategy, after the US election?
It's easy to see it as straightforwardly good news, given the prominence of climate in Biden & Harris' statements during & after the election. 1/8
Where are we, on citizen support for climate strategy, after the US election?
It's easy to see it as straightforwardly good news, given the prominence of climate in Biden & Harris' statements during & after the election. 1/8
But there were still 71 million Americans who voted for a candidate denying climate science.
Either they agreed, or they didn't feel strongly enough to let it influence their vote.
We know that 13% of Americans dispute the science (5% in UK). 2/8 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/07/us-hotbed-climate-change-denial-international-poll
Either they agreed, or they didn't feel strongly enough to let it influence their vote.
We know that 13% of Americans dispute the science (5% in UK). 2/8 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/07/us-hotbed-climate-change-denial-international-poll
In the UK, we have a much firmer consensus and higher levels of concern.
But in both countries, this generalised concern does not necessarily lead to support for specific policies.
We know that badly-designed climate policies can backfire: look at the gilets jaunes. 3/8
But in both countries, this generalised concern does not necessarily lead to support for specific policies.
We know that badly-designed climate policies can backfire: look at the gilets jaunes. 3/8
So, now that the UK and (soon) the US have leaders championing the net-zero cause, we need to be really careful about building citizen support for it.
And not building opposition to it.
I don't have all the answers but here are 3 things that need to happen (with links): 4/8
And not building opposition to it.
I don't have all the answers but here are 3 things that need to happen (with links): 4/8
First: a confident climate narrative that isn't just pitched at left voters.
In the UK, I've been surprised by the lack of this in a govt strongly committed to net zero.
In the US, it's an essential ingredient of Biden reaching across the divide. 5/8 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/climate-change-the-right-needs-a-good-story-to-tell-s8vtxkzfb
In the UK, I've been surprised by the lack of this in a govt strongly committed to net zero.
In the US, it's an essential ingredient of Biden reaching across the divide. 5/8 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/climate-change-the-right-needs-a-good-story-to-tell-s8vtxkzfb
Second, a different way of doing politics. The climate policy world tends to be pretty techy, and we forget that expertise is necessary but not sufficient.
We need to involve people in policy development, because it makes policies better. 6/8 https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/29/opinion/strangers-room-hammering-out-climate-solutions-together/
We need to involve people in policy development, because it makes policies better. 6/8 https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/10/29/opinion/strangers-room-hammering-out-climate-solutions-together/
And third, a much more local focus. It was striking how much support their was for local control of climate policies, in the #ClimateAssemblyUK discussions.
The cautionary tale of Cumbria's coal mine shows what happens if we get this wrong. 7/8 https://theconversation.com/britain-has-its-first-new-deep-coal-mine-in-decades-a-result-of-pretending-climate-change-isnt-political-114028
The cautionary tale of Cumbria's coal mine shows what happens if we get this wrong. 7/8 https://theconversation.com/britain-has-its-first-new-deep-coal-mine-in-decades-a-result-of-pretending-climate-change-isnt-political-114028
There's such opportunity here - to respond to rising concern about climate, to understand that not everyone thinks that way, and to link to people's own experience & aspirations: jobs, family, community.
But it's a challenge - and one which we're not talking about enough. 8/8
But it's a challenge - and one which we're not talking about enough. 8/8
ps more on this in the book if I've whetted your appetite https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/too-hot-to-handle
