A significant segment of society perceives climate change as a ‘hoax’, a term aligning with the ‘comfortable lie’ many want to believe in. Former United States Vice President Al Gore previously referred to this phenomenon as an ‘inconvenient truth’: the psychological and behavioural resistance to acknowledging realities that necessitate lifestyle changes. This view enables individuals to continue living without addressing threatening issues caused by climate change.
Climate change is, in itself, a controversial subject. Inconvenient and unaffordable climate solutions, especially for the lower strata of society and developing countries, may deter climate action. Emotional reasoning and personal experience taking precedence over scientific evidence, misinformation from the media and political leadership, and vested interests in the energy sector also contribute to this hindrance. Even among individuals who accept the reality of climate change, the perception of its inevitability may compel them to inaction. In a period of great upheaval and uncertainty around political administration, a critical question arises: how can we get people to care about environmental sustainability?
With the backdrop of Hawaii as an example of considerable environmental harm meeting sustainability efforts, both led by the military-industrial complex and its allied institutions, IAFOR invites delegates to this Forum discussion on ‘Global Citizenship and the Environment: Engagement and Action’ to discuss issues related to how we can sensitise and compel people to climate action.
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