1970s climate scientists: "Look, we found something a while back, we're quite confident it's bad, let's do something about it. Let's protect the climate!"
1970s society: "All right, let's look into it."
1980s climate scientists: "Uhm, about that climate thing. It's getting more urgent, and yes, you've some something, but it's not enough."
19s0s society: "What? But that oil company told us it's not that bad. You're exaggerating!"
1990s climate scientists: "Erm, sorry to interrupt, but we're now really sure it's bad, it's getting worse and we're not doing enough. Look, here's the research from 40 years."
1990s society: "History is over! Also, have you seen that slick new Windows? And look at that nice fast car! Look, science, we're going as fast as we can, but can you blame us for enjoying the fall of the wall?"
2000s climate scientists: "We're getting a bit anxious about the development and now CO2 emissions grow faster than ever before. Also, look at methane! We've run the numbers over and over again: This. Is. Bad! Here's an even longer list of research!"
2000s society: "Wait! You're starting a panic. I've seen that AVI on the internet that says what you're saying is a hoax! Also, BP is green now and tells me my carbon footprint is the problem."
2010s climate scientists: "Hellooooo! This is really serious! Could you at least commit to limiting the effects of man-made climate change to 1.5°C? Our even better computers still come to the same very, very bad conclusions. Please? Pretty please?"
2010s society: "Climate change's a hoax, the internet, fringe news and that bonkers liberitarian politician told me very convincingly. Also, those 1.5°C are an arbitrary limit to expropriate me and I won't do anything before China and India are 100% CO2 free!"
2020s climate scientists: "Okay, those floods and storms are made worse and more frequent due to climate change. Also, we're still not doing enough to even keep it below 1.5°C. This is going to be really, really bad."
2020s society: "WHAT? Why the fuck didn't you warn us? This is really expensive now. We don't have money to cut down on CO2, we really need those planes and coal fire plants and big cars, wrooooom, look at that slick sound, wrooooom, sorry what were you saying?"
2020s climate scientists: "We're all gonna die if we don't act!"
2020s society: "You're panicking! Look at the bright side of life. Don't be so negative!"
@alexblock Yup. I just recently watched a presentation by Stefan Rahmstorf (head of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany) who summed up his experience with anti-climate action lobbyists and the tinfoil hat community. And I was a) impressed by how he managed to remain sane, but also b) how nicely he still phrases it.
And then you hear people seriously saying climate activists should formulate their demands more nicely, as to not alienate the public. As if that worked in the past.
@cweickhmann an interesting read is Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World by Katharine Hayhoe.... A very good read if you are looking for ways to talk to others about #ClimateChange
@cweickhmann Sadly, sums it up in a nutshell... #climatecrisis