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The obligations

There are obligations to cut greenhouse gas emissions, both according to international agreements, and according to the moral obligation to avoid causing harm to others. See document 36. But all sections of society are failing.

National governments and local administrations

• a paternalistic style of decision making
• not taking actions that should be obvious
• taking wrong actions
• pretence and deceit
• lack of tranparency
• not engaging with criticism
• acting as if the priority is to preserve the privileged lifestyle of the richest people in the world

It seems that there are many instances of the offence of Misconduct in Public Office [1].

Scientists and other experts

• trusting the government to act appropriately on the evidence
• not speaking up
• self-censoring [2]
• rogue individuals not working towards a consensus

The media

• failing to scrutinise governments
• repeating fallacies
• not judging between competing points of view

Companies

• not reducing emissions
• lobbying governments not to take effective action
• repeating fallacies
• deliberate deceit

Campaigning and protest groups

• fragmented efforts
• self censoring [2]
• inconsistent and contradictory messaging
• repeating fallacies

Citizens

• too trusting of governments
• subserviant / docile
• not listening to campaigners and protesters
• repeating fallacies
• not reducing emissions

Who is most responsible

It is hard to say who is most culpable because the failures are so interlinked, but those who are in paid roles should attract the most criticism.

References

[1]	Cown Prosecution Service Misconduct in Public Office https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/misconduct-public-office

[2]	Turning delusion into climate action - Prof Kevin Anderson, an interview (2020) Responsible Science https://www.sgr.org.uk/resources/turning-delusion-climate-action-prof-kevin-anderson-interview

First published: 16 Jan 2022
Last updated: 18 May 2023