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The Climate Question

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Why we find it so hard to save our own planet, and how we might change that.

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The Climate Question: Why do we find it so hard to take action on climate change?

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20/12/2021 GMT

Why do we find it so hard to take action on climate change?

BBC World Service - The Climate Question, Why do we find it so hard to take action on climate change?

For decades scientists have warned us about the risks of climate change. Yet humans are badly psychologically designed to face up to the challenge of changing our behaviour. Research shows that constant threats of impending doom make us hit the snooze button rather than waking us up. And our evolutionary shortcomings mean we respond to the threat of immediate danger rather than what might happen in the future.  
So what can actually work to help us change our status quo? 
Presenters Kate Lamble and Neal Razzell are joined by: 
George Marshall, Founder of Climate Outreach and author of Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change 
Elke Weber, Professor of Psychology at Princeton University 
Per Espen Stoknes, Psychologist, Economist and author of What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming. 
 
Producer: Sophie Eastaugh 
Reporter: Frank Walter 
Researcher: Natasha Fernandes 
Series Producer: Alex Lewis 
Editor: Emma Rippon 
Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot

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The Climate Question

Why do we find it so hard to take action on climate change?

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