Robert Gifford, an environmental psychologist, shares insights on the ideologies limiting our climate response. Kevin Kaners, a podcaster who delves into negative emissions technologies, discusses the skepticism surrounding carbon capture methods. Kate Moran, leading Ocean Networks Canada, shares exciting developments in converting CO2 into solid rock through the Solid Carbon project. The conversation critiques the 'technosalvation' mindset, stressing that while technology is crucial, personal accountability and systemic change are equally essential in the fight against climate change.
The reliance on technology for climate solutions, termed technosalvation, risks complacency by fostering belief that innovation alone can resolve ecological crises.
Ideologies shape our understanding of climate issues, highlighting how different belief systems can influence environmental responsibility and conservation efforts.
Deep dives
The Diverging Paths of Climate Action
Two contrasting strategies for addressing the climate crisis are presented, emphasizing a choice between transforming our relationship with nature and continuing to innovate technologically. While one path advocates for a simpler, slower lifestyle free from heavy industries and internal combustion engines, the other promotes reliance on human ingenuity to adapt and improve environmental conditions. The potential of technology to modify nature and address the crisis raises the question of whether historical reliance on innovation has been sufficient. However, the concern remains that innovation alone might not be enough, requiring a deeper exploration of our ideologies and values.
The Ideological Barriers to Climate Action
Ideologies serve as powerful lenses through which we interpret the world, influencing beliefs about climate change and our responsibilities in addressing it. Different ideological perspectives, such as conservative versus liberal, reveal a spectrum of beliefs regarding environmental stewardship and resource conservation. For example, some politically conservative individuals may prioritize conservation despite their overarching ideology favoring capitalist exploitation. Unexamined ideologies like believing in superhuman powers or system justification can inhibit recognition of humanity's role in the climate crisis, ultimately delaying necessary actions for change.
The Promise and Perils of Techno-Salvation
The concept of techno-salvation suggests reliance on technological solutions to address climate issues, potentially diverting attention from systemic change. This perspective leads to complacency, as individuals may assume that engineers will find a fix without their active participation in mitigating climate impacts. Discussions around carbon capture technologies illustrate this tension, where proving their efficacy and safety requires significant investment and public acceptance. Ultimately, the reliance on technological solutions should complement, not replace, immediate mitigation efforts to create a sustainable future.
Meet our second genus of Dragons – Ideologies. These are constellations of beliefs and values; filters for understanding the world.
One species of Ideology has flourished in the modern era: the Dragon of Technosalvation – A belief that technology can fix all our problems, and by extension, the climate.
To learn more about the Dragons of Climate Inaction (+ musical credits, citations, and more) visit futureecologies.net/dragons