Inaction
People continue to pollute for several reasons:
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- Pollution “doesn’t affect people’s everyday lives.”
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- “Fear of...consequences." "Will it cost me?"
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- “Worry that [we] will be judged by others.”
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- Avoidance: “Somebody will think of something.”
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- "We have a tendency to wait for others to act...[and]
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a preference for the present situation; [and] a disinclination to change things."
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While we rationalize our addiction to pollution, the weather worsens.
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- “There’s a time lag." "We’re adjusting to...‘shifting baselines syndrome’...
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Little by little, a hotter, more chaotic, and more dangerous world is becoming normal to us.”
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- “We...unknowingly accept an increasingly degraded...planet as normal.”
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“‘It’s...hard to get people to change their way of life’.”
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“People tend to overweigh the potential negatives.”
If you changed your life-style, would you put close relationships at risk?
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“Being a good...citizen...butts up against...tendencies to prioritize...families/friends.”​
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“People learn...facts...through discussion with friends and family.”
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When people quit a polluting life-style, it’s often because:
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“We have a positive view of [the new] behaviour,
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and have a strong sense of personal obligation.”
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"We believe the action will 'matter'.” And we
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"feel inaction will compromise [our] values.”
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How can we encourage more people to create less pollution?
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By sharing inspirational stories
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“Take an empathetic approach.”
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“The best antidote to climate anxiety is...action!”
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