There are several motivations as to why some people ignore, deny, resist or actively oppose the reality of global warming. I believe the strongest and most impactful is money/power … greed in a word. For some their job is threatened, so fears of the future do not out weigh fears of today. The immediate need even stops them from contemplating the true future impact they will face. Yup — a continuation of how the powerful still manipulate those with economic insecurity. For them a short term solution — new job — is needed as well as education about the future impact. Resolve their economic insecurity and they are freed up to see more clearly and act in their long term benefit.
However the biggest impact on this topic comes from those GETTING RICH off of ruining our world. It seems like they do not care what they are doing to the world — because if they have enough money they can protect themselves from the result because of their wealth. They believe they will NOT experience the consequences of their actions (or even if they do, they will still be in power, control and on top).
So HOW do we get them to KNOW they WILL experience the results? Not be protected from their actions? Perhaps not even keep the benefits of their actions? They currently control the power structures — and courts — here in US. Does the push come from other countries? Is their any lesson from the past that can be applied???? Where those profiting off the exploitation of a people/land/community held power and influence yet were still held accountable? From Slavery? From Robber Barons? From industrialization? From Cigarettes? From the Housing corruption? There must be some do’s and don’ts we learned as a result?
The big difference is that ALL peoples are impacted from global warming — everyone. The prior examples I set forth could be seen as isolated, impacting only some people (i.e. not ‘me’, just other people). Not the case with global warming. Can we use that to get change? To hold those getting rich accountable? Take away their ‘ill’ gotten gains somehow?
Looking forward to your thoughts.