Climate Alarmism ‘Robbing’ Students of Hope, Ambition, Earth Science Professor Asserts
A geology professor gathered public attention recently by asserting that climate alarmism is robbing students of hope and ambition. Earth Science professor, Dr. Kevin Dunn of University of New South Wales, spoke in a podcast about why he believes climate alarmism to be overwhelming and “potentially dangerous” to students.
How Climate Alarmism Affects Students
It has been proven that uncertainty can be one of the most intimidating aspects of any situation. Current climate discussions can often paint an uncertain climate future in terms of the necessary steps to reduce any drastic change. For many students, this certainty can lead to an overwhelming sense of anxiety and an inability to take decisive action. According to Dunn, “if you tell young people the world’s going to end in 12 years, they’ll just throw up their arms and give up.”
Suggested Solutions to Climate Alarmism
Dunn goes on to suggest an alternative viewpoint to the common narratives of doom and gloom that are often seen in climate discussions. Instead of dwelling on potential negative outcomes and uncertainties that are largely out of a student’s control, Dunn suggests focusing on taking action.
- Promoting basic education on the science of climate change.
- Encouraging conversations on potential mitigation and adaptation options that we, as individuals, have the power to change
- Highlighting successful examples of how climate change is being mitigated across the world.
Through these suggestions, Dr. Dunn aims to focus on empowering students instead of burdening them with a bleak outlook of the future. By encouraging the discussion of the potential to make change on the individual level, younger generations will be better equipped to make the necessary changes to reduce their own impacts on climate change and have the hope to move forward with ambition.
A prominent Earth science professor is warning that a growing tendency towards “climate alarmism” is making it increasingly difficult for students to remain hopeful and ambitious.
According to Professor Jeff Severinghaus of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, talk of an impending climate crisis has reached an extreme in recent years, with many young people now fearful of a world in which they will not only have to cope with vast social, economic and geopolitical upheavals, but also with a significantly hotter planet and its dire consequences.
The professor goes on to note that although the impacts of climate change are real, and the solutions often expensive and painful, young people should instead be encouraged to think of the positive aspects of a low-carbon transition and to remain hopeful about the future.
“We should also talk about the positive aspects of what climate science can bring, to focus on solutions and to really emphasize the solutions,” Prof. Severinghaus told CNN. “Because that’s what science should be about, it should be about optimism and hope.”
The professor’s comments are not without their critics, however, with some proponents of climate action arguing that the “alarmism” is necessary to spur governments into taking decisive action.
Yet Severinghaus stands firm in his belief that hope and ambition remain vital if students are to remain engaged with a rapidly changing and often daunting world. He believes that by presenting solutions as achievable, rather than simply talking about a crisis, students will be encouraged to develop innovative approaches to tackle climate change.
“We need optimism and ambition,” Prof. Severinghaus concluded. “We want the next generation to take ownership of the problem.”