Why do our brains avoid thinking about climate change, and how can we fix that?
In a more rational world, the glaring catastrophes pointing towards climate change would be addressed as substantial evidence proving that the nightmares of climate scientists and activists are truly unfolding. Suddenly, climate change is not just the potential destruction of faraway islands by rising sea levels or the polar bears dying in the arctic. It has become subtle changes in our summers and winters and that is becoming more noticeable year-by-year.
Setting aside higher-level policymaking and those who do not believe in climate change, there is an explanation as to why the even strong believers of the crisis sometimes choose to look away. What makes this a persistent problem is that it is not a result of lack of intelligence or knowledge, but a desperate need to grab hold of final strands of hope.
Per Espen Stoknes, a psychologist and economist who studies our relationship to the natural world, discovered that it is a form of defense mechanism of five main stages, in which our instincts and our rational mind play role.
First, there is often a sense of distance between us and the effects of climate change, whether physical distance (for example, Australia’s fires, or the melting ice caps), or the stretch of time. An interesting way to describe the public’s outlook on investing in mitigating the coming impacts of climate change is “asking teenagers to save for their grandchildren’s retirement,” (Mann, 2018). While I would argue that it is inaccurate, considering that the impacts of climate change are tangible by the onset of 2020, and that we have an ethical responsibility to develop sustainably, it is not difficult to see why people would take that path of thinking. The worst of its impacts are approaching unfathomably fast on a geological scale, but would take generations of human years to occur (Mann, 2018).
The second, Espen Stoknes described, is doom. Climate change is framed as an impending apocalypse, something that will bring catastrophe and loss. It has been over 30 years since the climate crisis has been communicated to us, we’ve been hearing of doom for too long. For a short while, it instills fear, but then we tend to habituate; it stops affecting us, and we would rather not think about it. It is much easier then to direct our attention to what we feel is real or tangible, something within our circle of control, which often is within the comfort of our daily lives.
The third circle of defense is dissonance. This is the inner discomfort that we feel when we do something that clearly harms the environment, but we dismiss it by comparing our actions to others, often less environmentally-conscious. Dissonance can also be observed when we undermine the impact of our actions, by, for instance, when we think about the impact of ‘just one plastic bag.’ When we start seeking refuge in altogether denying climate change. By acting and thinking as though we are unaware of it, we might find inner peace from guilt and fear. Denial is a defense well known to be enforced by society’s silence in not addressing the topic (Espen Stoknes, 2017).
It is essential to learn to recognize when your brain is choosing to look away, and the first step in addressing your attitude towards becoming more environmentally-conscious. Next is tearing down the walls constructed by your brain, one after the other, by communicating with it differently.
You can shrink distance by bringing the scale of the crisis to a personal realm, remember that it is multigenerational and all-encompassing, but do not give way for the next defense (doom) to arise. Consider its impacts on your mental health and culture, and use the sense of urgency to prompt a positive change. Be encouraged by your society’s initiatives, and believe that your actions would spark a change, at least in your circle of acquaintances.
When it comes to the ‘doom,’ defense, it is crucial to reject falling into the downward spiral of fear then indifference. The best way, I think, is to convert the worry into action. Like with other forms of anxiety, taking things slowly into your own hands will clear your perspective and give you a better sense of control. When you give your actions the environmental weight and value they deserve, you also counter the third wall of defense, dissonance. This in-turn becomes a motivational boost to tackle denial, because your environmentally-conscious actions will remind you that there is a truth to it.
There is a lot of room for self-improvement when it comes to how we interact with the environment. I truly believe that people should approach their unsustainable habits at their own pace, despite the urgency of the issue. Being pressed causes most to act stubborn and unapproachable, so it is clear that climate communication is tricky, and has arguably been misused. The best way to tackle your thoughts and habits, and spark a chain of positive change is through self-understanding and personal improvement.
References:
- Espen Stokes, P. (2017). How to Transform Apocalypse Fatigue into Action on Global Warming. Retrieved January 3rd, 2020 from https://www.ted.com/talks/per_espen_stoknes_how_to_transform_apocalypse_fatigue_into_action_on_global_warming
- Mann, C. (2018). The worst effects of global warming may not be Felt for Centuries. So why should we think about it now? Retrieved January 5th, 2020 from https://ideas.ted.com/the-worst-effects-of-climate-change-may-not-be-felt-for-centuries-so-how-should-we-think-about-it-now/
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