The debate around climate change is heated as next to the exchange of facts, it often wakes strong emotions. Together with other researchers, Sebastian Levi examined the most common patterns of counter-argumentation employed in these conversations.
It has long been scientifically proven that the man-made climate change exists and progresses with unprecedented speed. Curbing it demands a fundamental transformation of our economies and lifestyles. This in turn generates concerns and fears in citizens. The book "Climate Action – Psychologie der Klimakriese" is a collected effort of psychologists and social scientists to look at climate change not only through the lens of natural sciences and technology, but also to see it as one of the pivotal socio-cultural phenomena of our times.
Next to the analysis of the role of the media, dissemination of knowledge among general public or cognitive dissonance in recognizing climate change manifestations, the book offers an insight into rhetoric excuses made against climate protection measures. The authors examine twelve argumentation styles utilized in public debates against ambitious climate action goals. They look at various strategies of resisting climate action, be it by questioning the need for climate activism or doubting the possibility of stopping climate change at all. Their analysis is the more important as it supports evidence-based public debate and access to relevant information about climate change.
Sebastian Levi, post-doctoral researcher at the Centre for Sustainability and co-author of the chapter, says: The political discourse on climate policy is often influenced by discourses that delay necessary climate action. In our book chapter on “Klimaschutz-Ausreden", we analyze discourses that accept the reality of human-made climate change but deny the need for urgent climate action.
The book "Climate Action - Psychologie der Klimakrise" was published in August 2021 by Psychosozial-Verlag, in German. The book chapter "Klimaschutz-Ausreden. Mit welchen Argumentationsmustern Klimaschutz verzögert wird" is based on the article Discourses of Delay (Labb et. Al, 2020) that the authors published in the journal Global Sustainability in 2020.
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Sebastian Levi, Postdoctoral Researcher