The political discourse around #COVID19 is starting to feel very similar... it's looking a whole lot like climate change, but sped up. The comparison isn't perfect, but the rhymes are there. A thread!
Early on, scientists recognize there's a problem, and warn governments around the world to take quick, decisive action. Jan 31: thelancet.com/journals/lance…
In the US, local governments in areas affected first begin to take it very seriously and take swift action. Jan 30:
komonews.com/news/local/was…
komonews.com/news/local/was…
They do this in the absence of any semblance top-down federal policy. In fact, those at the top of the federal government are doing pretty much all they can to downplay the risk. Feb 10: newsweek.com/trump-says-chi…
The president and his supporters continue to downplay the risk even as evidence mounts that this is going to be serious. They circle the wagons to protect their leader from reputational harm. Feb 25: politico.com/news/2020/02/2…
Conservatives across the board rally to their president's side and decry those who are trying to take the problem seriously. Feb 28: foxnews.com/media/lawrence…
They say "it's just like the flu!", making comparisons that seem plausible on the surface but that have no scientific merit in order to mislead. Feb 28: thedailybeast.com/white-house-ch…
The characters who love attention make light of the situation and poke fun at those taking the problem seriously. March 4: nbcnews.com/politics/congr…
But, as they say, life comes at you fast, and once these folks are personally affected, they start to take it seriously. March 9:
Does this story arc sound familiar? It should. Scientists warned about climate change starting decades ago. Conservatives do their best to downplay the problem because it's politically expedient to do so. In the meantime, action to solve the problem is stalled, things gets worse.
When the problem starts to hit more close to home, (hello FL Rep @RepRooney), conservatives begin to see the scientific reality and take action. While other conservatives continue to claim "It's just weather!"
How do we get more people to take this seriously? Just like with climate change, it seems like it's not data or science that will do it, but connections on a personal level, as @KHayhoe explains in this video from her wonderful series, Global Weirding:
As she recommends, it's best to connect over values you share rather than to try to explain the data. Talk about how you'd like to keep your grandparents or elderly neighbors safe. If you know someone in healthcare, reflect on what they're about to go through.
The public political trajectory of #covid19 isn't exactly the same as that of climate change, but the story seems eerily similar. Learn from the communication strategies of climate change to help spread responsible (not panicked!) awareness of covid-19.
