Tempering The Climate Problem With Solutions

Dear media: We need more stories about resilience to climate change

Elizabeth Arnold, May 27, 2018 (LA Times)

“…[A] familiar narrative, about communities facing sea level rise and coastal erosion, fits into a larger pattern of climate change coverage. The threats posed to humans, polar bears and entire ecosystems are recounted on a daily basis, leading to what researchers call a ‘hope gap’…[There is still no dedicated agency or funding at the federal level to address climate-induced relocation. And while the public is slowly accepting the reality of warming, even those identified as the most alarmed say they don't really know what to do about it.] With little offered in the way of action or response, people eventually tune out…

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A surprising number of scholars are studying how the public responds to climate news….[Media and Climate Change Observatory founder Max Boykoff, recently] called attention to a ‘trend of daily fear, misery and doom’ that leaves audiences feeling powerless…This doesn't mean we should stop reporting the terrifying realities. But it does mean we need to start telling stories about effective responses…” click here for more

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