I have been struggling with why many people the world over are ignoring recent developments (see below). The Bystander Effect must be a big part of the explanation. "The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency situation.” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/bystander-effect
This must be why everybody just carries on as normal; because everybody else is carrying on as normal even though the emergency is clear and life-threatening.
I am referring to two recent developments, one happened in the scientific world and the other is happening in the wild.
The first is that on the 24th July the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) published this report: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/scientific-experts-call-for-eight-urgent-measures-to-preserve-life-supporting-ocean-function-amid-fears-that-changes-could-be-irreversible
The lead author Prof. Dan Laffoley http://danlaffoley.com/resume/ says simply "All life on Earth is at risk from ocean collapse”. "Experts convened by the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) warn that failure to take action in the next ten years to halt damage caused by unprecedented rates of climate heating and other human activities could result in catastrophic changes in the functioning of the global ocean, threatening vital ecosystems and disrupting human civilisation.” More than 60% of our oxygen comes from the ocean quite apart from the many millions who depend on it for food and living.
The second is more dramatic and perhaps more significant which is why it has received more coverage: Millions of hectares of tundra are on fire in Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia and Siberia https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49125391
Multi year droughts, abnormally high temperatures, methane releases and lightning have ignited the fires. Some of them may now burn for years. This is an important positive feedback which will accelerate global warming and expand the areas on fire in coming years.
What can we do to confront our psychological bias and take action ?
1. Demand political change. Support the Green Party or Extinction Rebellion or tell your MP that these are the most important and pressing issues.
2. Talk about these matters with your friends, family, colleagues and contacts.
3. Get active - if you are not already - because it is only if enough of us do something that things will change.
I have not written for a while because I have been busy setting up a charity that aims to try to make a difference. Please look at our website which we have recently updated: https://www.climatecrisis.earth/ If you want to be on the Climate Crisis Foundation mailing list please let me know by email.
If you want to help us in any way please contact me.
