Part 1:
Beattie, James, et al., editors. Climate, Science, and Colonization : Histories from Australia and New Zealand. Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
Bouman, Thijs, et al. “When Worry about Climate Change Leads to Climate Action: How Values, Worry and Personal Responsibility Relate to Various Climate Actions.” Global Environmental Change, vol. 62, 2020, pp. 1–11, Science Direct, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102061.
Box, Jason E., et al. “Key Indicators of Arctic Climate Change: 1971-2017.” Environmental Research Letters, vol. 14, no. 4, 2019, IOPScience, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aafc1b.
Jason Box's article examines nine Arctic elements indicating climate change over 47 years (1971-2001). His findings reveal significant correlations to Arctic surface air temperature changes, serving as future ecosystem status indicators. The study analyzes air temperatures, Alaskan permafrost averages, precipitation, spring snow coverage, sea ice extent, and glacier mass balance. Box notes clear CO2 emissions linkages across all indicators, addressing various confounding variables for a clearer Arctic system understanding. However, uneven pre-1971 datasets hinder long-term cohesion.
Brulle, Robert J., et al. “Shifting Public Opinion on Climate Change: An Empirical Assessment of Factors Influencing Concern over Climate Change in the U.S., 2002–2010.” Climatic Change, vol. 114, no. 2, 2012, pp. 169–88, Springer Link, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-012-0403-y.
Robert Brulle's study examines factors influencing US public concern on climate change over 8 years (Jan 2002-Dec 2010). Employing Stimson's 1999 empirical method, Brulle analyzes data from 74 surveys during this period. Factors include extreme weather events, scientific information access, media coverage, elite cues, and movement advocacy. Brulle finds elite cues and public mobilization most impactful, while science-based advocacy least. Despite testing various hypotheses, the 8-year timeframe limits relevance in judging public opinion.
“Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation.” NASA Global Climate Change and Global Warming: Vital Signs of the Planet, 18 July 2022, https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/.
NASA advocates for two approaches to combat climate change: mitigation, which involves reducing greenhouse gas levels, and adaptation, addressing existing climate changes. Mitigation aims to stabilize gas levels by cutting emissions, while adaptation focuses on emergency preparedness and infrastructure improvement. NASA emphasizes data accessibility through projects like Gravity Recovery and Climate Experience and the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite. While comprehensive, this broad approach may overlook nuanced challenges hindering global implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies.
“Greenwashing – the Deceptive Tactics behind Environmental Claims.” United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/greenwashing. Accessed 15 February 2024.
Heglar, Mary Annaise. “I Work in the Environmental Movement. I Don’t Care If You Recycle.” Vox, 28 May 2019, www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/5/28/18629833/climate-change-2019-green-new-deal.
Mary Heglar recounts the common reaction she faces when revealing her environmental work, highlighting a narrative of individual responsibility for climate change. She argues against this, advocating for collective action to combat climate change effectively. Referencing the 2018 IPCC report, the "Crying Indian" ad campaign, and researchers Brene Brown and Yessenia Funes, Heglar's essay encourages informed action. However, being an op-ed in Vox may undermine its perceived reliability to some.
Hiller, Avram. “Climate Change and Individual Responsibility.” The Monist, vol. 94, no. 3, 2011, pp. 349–68. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23039149.
Avram Hiller challenges Walter Sinnott-Armstrong's concept of ICI (individual causal inefficacy) regarding the global climate crisis, arguing against the notion that individual actions are insignificant. He cites selfishness, denial, limited value capacity, and the tipping point effect as factors driving aversion to climate responsibility. Hiller draws from philosophical papers addressing individualism's moral implications but acknowledges the inherent subjectivity of philosophical arguments and the presence of counterpoints.
Lieberman, Benjamin David, and Elizabeth Gordon. Climate Change in Human History: Prehistory to the Present. Bloomsbury Academic, 2018.
Lobell, David B., et al. “Impacts of Future Climate Change on California Perennial Crop Yields: Model Projections with Climate and Crop Uncertainties.” Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, vol. 141, no. 2, 2006, pp. 8–18, Science Direct, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2006.10.006.
David Lobell's study focuses on California's vulnerable perennial cropping systems in the face of climate change, analyzing six crops: wine grapes, almonds, table grapes, oranges, walnuts, and avocados. Findings suggest potential crop losses ranging from 0-40% without CO2 adaptation, indicating downward yield pressure. Lobell recommends integrating climate considerations into California's agricultural planning for crop selection and planting locations. Despite acknowledging uncertainties, including climate and crop response, variability within the models remains a concern.
Mitigation Needs the ‘We’: A State-of-the-Art Review of Social Identity Effects Motivating Climate Change Action.” Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, vol. 42, 2021, pp. 89–96, Science Direct, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.04.006.
Ogunbode, Charles A., and Kate Arnold. “Knowledge, Morality, and Threat Perception: A Juxtaposition of Internal Influences on Climate Change–Related Behavioral Intentions in Nigeria.” Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, vol. 20, no. 1, 2014, pp. 242–62, Taylor and Francis Online, https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2012.729141.
Orville, Howard T, and Sutter S Paul. “The Impact of Weather Control on the Cold War.” Making Climate Change History: Documents from Global Warming’s Past, University of Washington Press, 2017, pp. 70–76.
In their chapter, Howard Orville and Paul Sutter reveal how the launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1958 discussions of weaponized weather began to circulate in the U.S . This discourse also supported the potential for climate control and emphasized the importance of understanding CO2 effects for research and national security. Sutter considers the Cold War-era push for technological superiority, influenced by figures like Dr. Edward Teller, shaping America's approach to the climate crisis. The chapter provides a historical overview of weather research, prediction, and CO2 emissions, primarily from the narrative perspective of Navy captain Howard Orville.
Osaka, Shannon. “Can Individuals Solve Climate Change? New Federal Cash Makes It More Possible than Ever.” Washington Post, 9 February 2023, www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/02/09/individual-action-climate-change-tax/.
Shannon Osaka explores the lasting impact of a study from over a decade ago, which revealed 90 companies' responsibility for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions since the Industrial Revolution. This shifted focus from individual actions to corporate choices. Legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act aims to incentivize public action against climate change, such as transitioning to electric vehicles and renewable energy. Osaka stresses utilizing tax credits effectively, referencing Princeton University Zero Lab's REPEAT project for emission reduction modeling. While emphasizing individual action's importance, the article overlooks challenges faced by marginalized groups.
Otto, Siegmar, et al. “The Critical Challenge of Climate Change for Psychology: Preventing Rebound and Promoting More Individual Irrationality.” European Psychologist, vol. 19, no. 2, 2014, pp. 96–106, Hogrefe, https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000182.
Siegmar Otto's research challenges the prevailing notion that technological advancements alone can combat climate change. He shows that societal energy consumption isn't decreasing due to rebound effects. Analyzing World Bank data, Otto argues that technology intensifies personal consumption desires, undermining its effectiveness. While providing valuable psychological insights, the paper overlooks the feasibility of completely forsaking personal wants without a concrete plan.
Plumer, Brad, and Nadja Popovich. “Where the World Is (and Isn’t) Making Progress on Climate Change.” The New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/11/30/climate/cop28-global-progress-carbon-emissions.html.
Nadja Popovich and Brad Plumer explore a forecast predicting a 2.8-degree Celsius global temperature increase due to ongoing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite efforts, complete decarbonization remains unattainable, notably in heavy industries like cement and steel reliant on fossil fuels. They emphasize the necessity for policy adjustments and increased crop yields to mitigate climate change impacts. While discussing research by the Rhodium Group and Kate Larsen, their analysis lacks detailed global implementation perspectives.
Popovich, Nadja, and Brad Plumer. “Who Has the Most Historical Responsibility for Climate Change?” The New York Times, 12 Nov. 2021, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/12/climate/cop26-emissions-compensation.html.
Nadja Popovich and Brad Plumer analyze the 2021 Glasgow United Nations climate summit, focusing on the debate over wealthier countries compensating poorer nations for greenhouse gas emissions. They argue that resolving these disputes is essential for new global deals. Data from the Global Carbon Project shows 23 countries responsible for half of CO2 emissions. While $100 billion has been pledged, poorer nations seek additional funds. The article provides historical context and relevant data but lacks specific negotiation proposals.
Smith, Joel B., et al. “Assessing Dangerous Climate Change through an Update of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) ‘Reasons for Concern.’” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, vol. 106, no. 11, 2009, pp. 4133–37, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0812355106.
Spence, Alexa, et al. “The Psychological Distance of Climate Change.” Risk Analysis, vol. 32, no. 6, 2012, pp. 957–72, PNAS, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.2011.01695.x.
Worland, Justin. “Why You Should Care about Celebrities’ Climate Hypocrisy.” Time, 30 Aug. 2022, time.com/6209448/california-drought-celebrities-climate-hypocrisy/.
Justin Worland explores the influence of celebrities on public opinion regarding climate change, suggesting their high-carbon consumption lifestyle has a more detrimental impact than their actions themselves. Their global reach, especially among impressionable audiences, makes their influence significant. Referencing academic sources from Oxford University Press and Sustainability, Worland's argument gains credibility. However, the article oversimplifies the complex relationship between celebrity perception and action, lacking acknowledgment of counterarguments or positive advocacy efforts.
Part 2:
For this assignment, I reviewed primary and secondary sources surrounding climate change and the psychological impacts of forcing personal responsibility in addressing climate change. The main texts I engaged with spanned narrative pieces in the environmental field to detailed research about the lasting effects of CO2 emissions on the environment. While familiar with climate information, it was surprising to see what factors these researchers delved into including air temperatures, permafrost, precipitation, snow coverage, arctic sea ice and glacier mass balance. These indicators, including snow coverage and sea ice, are common measures of climate change that I have read about before, but the others offered insights into what would provide valuable data to researchers that popular media might not discuss.
Another surprising discovery I made was in the chapter examined from Making Climate Change History: Documents from Global Warming’s Past. The intersection of political conflict and climate change was new to me, which is ironic considering a large portion of my focus was on how the psychological impacts of climate change impact personal perceptions, actions, policy, etc. Howard explains that during the Cold War, the United States pursued technological advancements regarding climate to outpace the Soviets. Contrasting this with the other sources that mention the U.S.’s focus using technology to address the climate crisis could reveal how climate change might continue to be exploited for other motives in first world countries.
Overall, my largest perspective shift on climate change came from the sources’ critiques of media narratives. Boykoff’s paper on media reporting and Worland’s analysis of celebrity influence on public climate perception had me evaluate why other people might develop particular views of the climate crisis, and my own biases to the different sources of media that I consume or criticize. I also feel that this has expanded my interdisciplinary understanding of the topic because now I am able to connect intense research with something more palatable to the average person. Box’s analysis of the Arctic climate change indicators or Lobell’s discussion of agricultural impacts for instance has fostered a deeper understanding of the policy and systematic adjustments needed to actually create sizable differences in the crisis. Incorporating philosophical and psychological insights, like Otto’s idea of the “rebound effect,” has again emphasized the multidimensional nature of this issue and forces me to evaluate that my stronger feelings towards people (who don’t take it seriously) might not (or should not) always be applicable.
For this writing project, I originally envisioned myself writing some sort of op-ed on the topic, much like Mary Helgar’s piece in Vox. I think back to one of my favorite opinion pieces by Ellen Beale about the stigma she finds surrounding her HSV 2 diagnosis. What I particularly love is the free-flowing conversational style of the piece and subtle push of her argument. If you’ve read the essay, you might quickly disagree with me, as even the title “I have herpes and I don’t think I need to tell people” feels extremely argumentative; however, from my perspective, it feels more like the author is inviting you into a conversation within her world—discussing her story, why she feels the way she does and why this works best for her life. However, I feel that a personal essay might serve better in this first discussion. Since I hope to be discussing personal responsibility, this personal essay would be a good time to dive into how I have transformed my relationship with climate change and climate action. I hope to talk about becoming a pescatarian in high school, and (embarrassingly I might add) shaming my parents for not following in my footsteps, while other (way too eager to be involved in something) friends of mine went way further and became vegan. Discussing this story, compared with the research behind why I might have felt compelled to make these choices, and then ultimately reversing them in college, will fit nicely within this narrative genre. I would like to take this time to reflect on some of the topics we’ve discussed in class as well, such as privilege and the guilt that might come along with that.
This personal essay will then lead me into an op-ed or informative essay for the following writing project, in which I can take an argumentative stance (maybe “I was a climate freak for 4 years and here’s why I don’t think it mattered”) on why putting pressure on individuals is counterproductive to solving systematic issues.