All sections of society are failing

All sections of society should be working together to overcome the biggest threat that mankind has ever faced.
Instead, the evidence is that they are all failing.
There are widespread failures by
  • climate scientists and other experts
  • government scientists
  • national governments and local administrations
  • the media
  • businesses and oher organisations
  • campaigning and protest groups
  • citizens
The evidence is that all groups are failing. 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.

The obligations

There is an obligation to cut greenhouse gas emissions radically and urgently, both according to international agreements, and according to the moral obligation to avoid causing harm to others - see document 100. But the evidence is that all sections of society are failing.

Climate scientists and other experts

Climate scientists and other experts should be explaining the key points of the scientific consensus, and the implications for policy making, but there are failures in

Government scientists

There are failures in

National governments and local administrations

There are failures in
It seems that there are many instances of the offence of Misconduct in Public Office [2].

The media

There are failures in

Businesses and other organisations

There are failures in

Campaigning and protest groups

There are failures in

Citizens

There are failures in

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

[2]Cown Prosecution Service Misconduct in Public Office https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/misconduct-public-office
[1]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: 23 Sep 2023