So @TheCurrentCBC had an IPCC climate scientist from Simon Fraser on today to discuss the new report. Quick thread on why it was not great as public comms
IPCC scientist explains in straightforward terms the implications of the report. Cool. Suggests this means massive changes to basically everything about daily life in Canada and beyond. New infrastructure, dense cities, less driving, less red meat. Which, okay, fair enough.
But bear in mind this IPCC scientist, speaking for an org most listeners don't know on a topic they only partially understand, has just told the audience life as they know it needs to be turned upside down, rapidly, to avoid catastrophe.
So then Anna Maria Tremonti asks, do we have the political will to do all that? Her exact phrase: POLITICAL WILL.
IPCC scientist responds by explaining that emissions-free tech is mostly there and getting cheaper. And then handwaves past the question, saying political leadership is absent to date.
Now, first, political LEADERSHIP is not political WILL. We are not one MLK type figure from a 1.5C trajectory worldwide.
But second and most importantly, if you are going to go on the radio and say all daily life must change everywhere rapidly, it is irresponsible to treat the mechanism by which that change must occur - POLITICS - as an afterthought.
I do not expect climate scientists to be experts in politics or in comms. But if as a climate scientist you choose to engage the public and want to do it well, you must give real thought to the political implications of what you are saying.
In the climate change fight, political will is practically the whole ballgame now. Science is clear, tech is there, money can be found. How does anyone build the public support to get elected on it and make it law? THAT'S NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT.
A carbon price most climate policy wonks think should be way stronger is one of the most contentious issues in Cdn politics. You're on the radio saying yes more of that plus a dozen even harder things must happen. HOW? is a question you have to think about.
Okay, I'm done.
Okay, I'm done.
