Scales of Change

A Field Guide to the Dragons of Climate INaction

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Show Summary

The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our lifetimes. Its scale defies comprehension, and conceals its true nature – not as one gigantic issue, but as many. Even those of us who accept the science and urgency of the climate crisis can struggle to act on our own knowledge and values. No matter who we are, our minds are subject to the Dragons of Climate Inaction: 36 different species of rationalizations – stories we tell ourselves consciously and subconsciously, shaping all of our decisions.

In this series we explore the psychology of climate inaction, and prove that another story is possible. In each chapter of this 8-part series, we’ll uncover a different genus of dragon. Along the way, we’ll explore the art of turning carbon into rock, face mortality in the heart of the Amazon, and rekindle our connection with the Earth. With the help of each of our guests, we’ll challenge the different types of climate inaction, and discuss how we can scale up to meet this moment, together.

Scales of Change was produced by Future Ecologies, with support from the University of Victoria.

Scales of Change is proud to be a 2021 Webby Honoree in Science & Education,
and a 2021 New York Radio Awards Finalist.

Meet the Dragons

Click to expand each genus, species, & species description
 

{Ch. 1} Limited Cognition (Artusnoia)

Often, as humans, we don’t think very well; we think we are rational, but often we rationalize. The environment often falls victim to us not thinking when we could, and should, take more action. Eleven manifestations of limited cognition are known:

  • Ancient Brain (A. reptilis)

    • Our brains have not evolved much since the time when we were no threat to the environment as a whole. Therefore, we tend to think in terms of immediately providing for ourselves, our families, and our friends, rather than the more distant or future task of sustaining the complex environmental systems upon which we ultimately depend.
  • Limited Information (A. indoctus)

    • Some people are still unaware that climate change is a problem. Others are quite aware, but have no knowledge of what to do about it. This may be caused by mixed media messages, lack of individual research, or perhaps simply a lack of technical knowledge about what is and is not effective.
  • Uncertainty (A. anceps)

    • When we are not sure, we hesitate; hesitation is inaction. Uncertainty can also feed self-interest: not sure how much of a resource is available? We tend to assume there are lots of it.
  • Environmental Numbness (A. torpens)

    • This manifests in two ways. First, it can mean screening out the distant aspects of climate change with which one cannot immediately identify or which have no immediate impact. Second, when we receive very frequent messages about climate change or the environment, we habituate to the message rather than actively listening to it.
  • Spatial Discounting (A. tractus)

    • Occurs when individuals presume that climate change or environmental problems are worse in other places than their own, so that they need not take personal responsibility now.
  • Temporal Discounting (A. aevum)

    • Occurs when individuals presume that climate change or environmental problems will occur so far in the future that they need not take personal responsibility now.
  • Optimism Bias (A. confidens)

    • Usually, optimism is a good thing, but many individuals assume they are less at risk for health issues than they actually are, and in terms of environmental problems, they often assume that all will be well without they themselves needing to act.
  • Perceived Behavioral Control (A. impotens)

    • When people believe they not able to do anything helpful about climate change or the environment.
  • Self-Efficacy (A. parvoperitia)

    • When people believe what they are able to do about climate change or the environment will not matter.
  • Confirmation Bias (A. segrego)

    • We want to be told that our views are correct, so we tend to choose media that reinforce our views.
  • Time = Money (A. merces)

    • When people tend to think of the time they are spending on something is about money, they tend to act less sustainably.

{Ch. 2} Ideology (Decretum)

Ideologies are broad, umbrella-like sets of beliefs. Depending on what they are, they may shelter anti-climate beliefs and actions. Four types exist:

  • Worldviews (D. perspectus)

    • For example, strong belief in free-enterprise capitalism tends to include the belief that the natural world is free to exploit as much as one desires or is able.
  • Suprahuman Powers (D. deutactus)

    • Some people believe that an omnipotent deity will cause or solve environmental problems. Others believe that Mother Nature is in charge. In both cases, the believer does not feel responsible for the climate or the environment.
  • Technosalvation (D. mechiania)

    • This is the belief that technology, such as geoengineering, can, by itself, reverse the effects of climate change. Although this field may have some promise, overconfidence in it can lead to inaction.
  • System Justification (D. sejustus)

    • People whose lifestyle is comfortable but climate-negative often would not like to lose that comfort. One way they justify keeping their lifestyle intact is by believing that “this is the way it was meant to be.”

{Ch. 3} Social Comparison (Communis)

The tendency to be influenced by others that one admires or is beholden to is quite strong. It can determine a portion of one’s environmental actions. Four species fall under this genus:

  • Social Comparison (C. invidia)

    • People often compare their actions with those of others to determine the “correct” behavior, even when that behavior is harmful for the environment
  • Social Norms (C. vicinia)

    • Norms predict behaviour. For example, when homeowners are told the average electricity use on their block, they tend to alter their own usage to match it, whether that’s up or down!
  • Perceived Inequity (C. illibra)

    • No one wants to be taken advantage of. When people believe that others will not take steps to reduce their use of carbon or help the environment, they are less likely to do so themselves.
  • Authority Rules (C. obsequium)

    • Sometimes one’s boss or organization requires one to travel or engage in other carbon-negative behavior.

{Ch. 4} Discredence (Negatio)

Unfortunately, disbelief about climate change and other environmental issues still exists. Those who do not accept that these problems exist tend to be hobbled by five dragons:

  • Mistrust (N. suspicio)

    • Some people distrust government officials or scientists, from whom much climate change information originates. This distrust leads to inaction.
  • Perceived Program Inadequacy (N. structura)

    • Even if individuals do trust authorities, they may not trust the programs that policymakers have proposed or implemented. Because most such programs are voluntary, some people blame the program’s shortcomings, rather than their own non-compliance, for their unwillingness to take part.
  • Denial (N. negatio)

    • Although this is becoming less common, the outright denial of climate and environmental problems can still be found. Deniers seem to be over-represented in the comments sections of the media.
  • Reactance (N. rebellis)

    • Some people not only distrust authorities, but actively take steps to engage in even more actions that harm the environment.
  • Contrarianism (N. dissidens)

    • Some people have a generalized tendency to disbelieve conventional wisdom. Such a person might believe that the moon landings were faked, that there was a US government conspiracy to topple the 911 towers, and that climate change is another hoax.

{Ch. 5} Perceived Risk (Timor)

Change is terrifying for many people. Six different types of risk have been identified as dragons that hinder changing behavior:

  • Functional Risk (T. efficax)

    • What if the change I am considering will not work as well as my current choice does? For example, one may not consider an electric vehicle out of fear that battery problems might limit its range.
  • Physical Risk (T. injuria)

    • For example, someone might consider cycling more, but worry about accidents.
  • Financial Risk (T. impersolvo)

    • Some environmental changes, such as solar panels, require significant initial costs. Will the investment pay off before one moves to a another residence?
  • Social Risk (T. ignominia)

    • What if a person’s friends tease her for choosing a pro-environmental action, or at least she fears that they will? This slows change.
  • Psychological Risk (T. mensagonia)

    • When teasing becomes more serious, such as from a significant other, or from a larger number of others, it can cause more serious psychological damage.
  • Temporal Risk (T. senex)

    • Time is valuable. One might decide not to change merely because the time needed to research the change means that the time spent is not spent on something else. What if the time spent leads to a change that is subject to one of the above risks? Hesitation hinders change.

{Ch. 6} Sunk Cost (Pretium)

Sunk costs are investment choices (not necessarily monetary) that limit alternative choices, in this case climate-friendly choices. Four species of this have been identified:

  • Financial Investments (P. pecunia)

    • If someone invests in a car, for instance, she or he is then less likely to bicycle for environmental reasons. This monetary choice scales all the way to up to making important investments in fossil fuel stocks.
  • Behavioral Momentum (P. impetus)

    • Habits are difficult to change, and many of our habits are not climate-positive. For example, eating habits and transportation habits can have strong negative effects on the climate and environment.
  • Conflicting Goals and Aspirations (P. alterplex)

    • This is an especially difficult dragon. We all have multiple goals, often quite worthy in themselves, and those other goals and aspirations often conflict with the goal of not harming the environment.
  • Lack of Place Attachment (P. dissocioterra)

    • Those who love the place in which they live are more likely to take care of it. Conversely, those with less attachment to the place where they live are also less likely to act in pro-environmental ways.

{Ch. 7} Limited Behaviour (Immobilis)

Most people try to do something to limit greenhouse gasses or help the environment. But sometimes their efforts fall short or even boomerang? Here are two dragons that cause this problem:

  • Tokenism (I. signum)

    • The climate change behaviors that are easiest to implement tend to have the least effect on the reduction of greenhouse gasses, so some people choose less effective solutions than they could.
  • The Rebound Effect (I. jevonsii)

    • Possibly the most ironic of the dragons of inaction, the rebound effect occurs when a positive environmental behavior is followed by one that negates it. For instance, people with fuel-efficient vehicles sometimes drive more than those without them, to the point where the net damage is greater. This is also called the Jevons Paradox or the Khazzoom-Brookes postulate.
 

Phylogeny

Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order:
Dracos
Family: Inclimactia

Dragon Phylogeny v2
 

Citations and Notes

Jump to Intro | Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7

 

Introduction: A Theory of Change

Listen: A Theory of Change

Guests: Robert Gifford, and kQwa’st’not Charlene George

Music: Vincent van Haaff, Loam Zoku, Sunfish Moon Light, Aner Andros, Greg Davis, and IKSRE

Other Recordings: Andrzej Kozlowski, KRAFTWERK2K1, SunnySideSound, robinhood76, xenognosis, SpliceSound, kiddpark, Jaylew1987, GreekIrish, JoannaLuna, kyles, Garuda1982, InspectorJ

Citations:

George, C. (2020) Seeing Through Watchers’ Eyes. Sierra Club BC

Gifford, R., Wells, J. (1991). FISH: a commons dilemma simulation. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers 23, 437–441. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03203408

Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation and adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290–302. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023566

 

Chapter 1: Hope Punk

Listen: Hope Punk

Dragon Genus: Artusnoia (Limited Cognition)

Guests: Robert Gifford, Nicholas de Pencier, and Elin Kelsey

Music: Vincent van Haaff, Loam Zoku, Sunfish Moon Light, IKSRE, Greg Davis, and Wizwars

Other Recordings: roubignolle, juskiddink, cognito perceptu, Rincewind87, soundslikewillem, RTB45, tonant, listeningtowhales, EpicWizard, Martin.Sadoux, artesmediales, brunoboselli, The Obama White House, PlanetroniK

Citations:

Baichwal, J., Burtynsky, E., & De Pencier, N. (Directors). (2018). Anthropocene: The Human Epoch. Canada: Mercury Films. Retrieved from theanthropocene.org/film/

Cinner, J., et al. (2018). Gravity of human impacts mediates coral reef conservation gains. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(27). doi:10.1073/pnas.1708001115

Hofstadter, D. R. (1987). Goedel, Escher, Bach: An eternal golden braid. Harmondsworth (Mddx.): Penguin. (for our rushed interpretation of Zeno’s Paradox)

Hull, A. (2019, December 09). Hopepunk and Solarpunk: On Climate Narratives That Go Beyond the Apocalypse. Literary Hub.

Kelsey, E. (2016, June 08). The Rise of Ocean Optimism. Smithsonian Magazine.

Ma, M. (2016, June 15). 'Bright spots' shine light on the future of coral reefs. University of Washington News.

Morton, T. (2019). Being Ecological. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Watts, J. (2018, October 8). We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN. The Guardian.

 

Chapter 2: Technosalvation

Listen: Technosalvation

Dragon Genus: Decretum (Ideology)

Guests: Robert Gifford, Kevin Caners, and Kate Moran

See also: YouTube video on explaining the Solid Carbon project

Music: Loam Zoku, Jack Hertz, Parallel Park, Blear Moon, Soda Lite, Pictures of the Floating World, Daniel Birch, and Sunfish Moon Light.

Other Recordings: Traveler, JustInvoke, gilly11, viertelnachvier, shelbyshark, SoundMarnus, Eelke, Carlos_Vaquero, soundslikewillem, lupums, squashy555, hisoul, deleted_user_7146007, bruce965, flood-mix, GirlWithSoundRecorder

Citations:

Gislason, S. R., & Oelkers, E. H. (2014). Carbon Storage in Basalt. Science, 344(6182), 373-374. doi:10.1126/science.1250828

Goldberg, D. S., Takahashi, T., & Slagle, A. L. (2008). Carbon dioxide sequestration in deep-sea basalt. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(29), 9920-9925. doi:10.1073/pnas.0804397105

Kelemen, P., Benson, S. M., Pilorgé, H., Psarras, P., & Wilcox, J. (2019). An Overview of the Status and Challenges of CO2 Storage in Minerals and Geological Formations. Frontiers in Climate, 1. doi:10.3389/fclim.2019.00009

Rogelj, J., D. Shindell, K. Jiang, S. Fifita, P. Forster, V. Ginzburg, C. Handa, H. Kheshgi, S. Kobayashi, E. Kriegler, L. Mundaca, R. Séférian, and M.V. Vilariño, 2018: Mitigation Pathways Compatible with 1.5°C in the Context of Sustainable Development. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty [Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, H.-O. Pörtner, D. Roberts, J. Skea, P.R. Shukla, A. Pirani, W. Moufouma-Okia, C. Péan, R. Pidcock, S. Connors, J.B.R. Matthews, Y. Chen, X. Zhou, M.I. Gomis, E. Lonnoy, T. Maycock, M. Tignor, and T. Waterfield (eds.)]. In Press. p 158

Sax, S. (2019, December 18). Geoengineering's Gender Problem Could Put the Planet at Risk. Wired Magazine

 

Chapter 3: Writing on the Wall

Listen: Writing on the Wall

Dragon Genus: Communis (Social Comparison)

Guests: Robert Gifford, Cate Sandilands, and Kay Gallivan

See also: the Wasteland Climate Anxiety Haunted House, and the Storying Climate Change Project

Music: Loam Zoku, Meydän, Vincent van Haaff, Aner Andros, Hildegard’s Ghost, and Sunfish Moon Light

Other Recordings: infobandit, eric5335, plivesey, adriann, Roulaine, InspectorJ, djtiii, RTB45, gnuchoi, craigsmith, DigestContent, CalGre

Citations:

Sandilands, C. ed. (2019). Rising Tides: Reflections for Climate Changing Times. Caitlin Press. ISBN 9781773860183

Sandilands, C. (2014). Acts of Nature: Literature, Excess and Environmental Politics. Critical Collaborations: Indigeneity, Diaspora and Ecology in Canadian Literary Studies. Wilfrid Laurier University Press. pp.127 - 142

 

Chapter 4: Driving Decisions

Listen: Driving Decisions

Dragon Genus: Negatio (Discredence)

Guests: Robert Gifford, Reuven Sussman, and Christine Kormos

Music: Loam Zoku, Lloyd Richards, Circus Homunculus, Soda Lite, Soft and Furious, Damon Boucher, and Sunfish Moon Light

Other Recordings: altfuture, sinewave1kHz, Alterrunfa, SpliceSound, ALLANZ10D, Sandermotions, Zihris, unreadpages, Kinoton, AryaNotStark, elliedixon

Citations:

Chen, Y, Meier, A. (2016). Fuel consumption impacts of auto roof racks. Energy Policy. 92. 325-333. 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.02.031.

Kormos, C, Gifford, R, Brown, E. (2014). The Influence of Descriptive Social Norm Information on Sustainable Transportation Behavior: A Field Experiment. Environment and Behavior. 47. 10.1177/0013916513520416.

Kormos, C, Axsen, J, Long, Z, Goldberg, S. (2019) Latent demand for zero-emissions vehicles in Canada (Part 2): Insights from a stated choice experiment, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Volume 67, 2019, Pages 685-702, ISSN 1361-9209, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2018.10.010.

Sussman, R, Tan, L, Kormos, C. (2020). Behavioral interventions for sustainable transportation: An overview of programs and guide for practitioners. Transport and Energy Research, 315-371. doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-815965-1.00014-4

 

Chapter 5: Force Majeure

Listen: Force Majeure

Dragon Genus: Timor (Perceived Risk)

Guests: Robert Gifford, Sarah Sax, and Gloria Ushigua

Special Thanks: Carolina Loza León and Claudia Cuesta

See also: How Indigenous Women Fought Oil Drilling In The Amazon — And Won (Bustle Magazine), and Gloria’s letter to the Chinese Embassy

Music: Loam Zoku, IKSRE, Blear Moon, Nokakayara, Krackatoa, 3eese, Erez Sussman, and Lloyd Richards

Other Recordings: Sarah Sax, Cheeseheadburger, Innominatus, InspectorJ, tim.kahn

Citations:

BBC News (2018, September 8) Chevron wins Ecuador rainforest 'oil dumping' case. BBC News.

Koenig, K, Mazabanda, C. (2019, November 7) Historic Victory in the Fight for Indigenous Rights and to End Amazon Crude. Amazon Watch.

Lin, S (2017, Aug 7) The Sápara Nation vs. the Slimy Oil Mungia. Intercontinental Cry.

Loki, R (2019, April 12) Indigenous peoples go to court to save the Amazon from oil company greed. Salon.

North, J (2020, March 31) How a Human Rights Lawyer Went From Hero to House Arrest. The Nation.

Salazar-López, L. (2013, October 25) Amazonian Indigenous Women Mobilize for Life. Amazon Watch.

Sax, S. (2019, July 2) For Ecuador’s Sápara, saving the forest means saving their language. Mongabay.

 

Chapter 6: Relatives of the Deep

Listen: Relatives of the Deep

Dragon Genus: Pretium (Sunk Cost)

Guests: Robert Gifford, Leila Scannell, Josphine Henry, Nadia Nowak, Eric Pelkey, Peter Underwood, Sarah Jim, and Lael Rathje

See also: ṮEṮÁĆES Climate Action Project

Music: Loam Zoku, Radium88, Blear Moon, Ben Hamilton, dustmotes, and Sunfish Moon Light.

Other Recordings: bulldozia, xenognosis, JohnsonBrandEditing, yosarrian, moose13088, Jaylew1987, akemov, 13GPanska_Stanek_Vojtech, sterferny, deleted_user_7709760, YoloSwaggings, CuddleNucks, belthazarus, craigsmith, blouhond, 190042, zatar, blaukreuz, digifishmusic, luis2004lima, cliftonmcarlson

Citations:

Nikiforuk, A. (2012) The Energy of Slaves: Oil and the New Servitude. Greystone Books. ISBN 1553659783

Scannell, L, Gifford, R. (2010) The relations between natural and civic place attachment and pro-environmental behavior. Environmental Psychology, 30, 3. pp. 289-297

Scannell, L, Gifford, R. (2014). The psychology of place attachment. Environmental Psychology: Principles and Practice, 5th Edition, Chapter: 9, Publisher: Optimal Books, Editors: R. Gifford

Schwartz, J. (2018, June 25) Judge Dismisses Suit Against Oil Companies Over Climate Change Costs. New York Times

 

Chapter 7: A Form of Life

Listen: A Form of Life

Dragon Genus: Immobilis (Limited Behaviour)

Guests: Robert Gifford, Bill Carroll, James Rowe, Candis Callison, Elin Kelsey, and kQwa’st’not Charlene George

See also: Corporate Mapping Project, mediaINDIGENA Podcast

Music: Loam Zoku, Soda Lite, Anitek, Damon Boucher, Daniel Birch, IKSRE, and Radioactive Bishop

Citations:

Abeles, T. (2000) Sustainability as a Verb. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 16:2, pages 3-11. DOI: 10.1300/J064v16n02_02

Bellefontaine, M. (2020, June 23) AUPE files constitutional challenge of Alberta's Critical Infrastructure Defence Act. CBC Edmonton.

Dordi, T. , & Weber, O. . (2019). The Impact of Divestment Announcements on the Share Price of Fossil Fuel Stocks. Sustainability, 11(11). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113122

Morin, B., Zoledziowski, A. (2020, June 9) Alberta Bans Pipeline Protests in Totally Normal Move. Vice.

Newburger, E. (2020, June 18) Carbon emissions sharply rebound as countries lift coronavirus restrictions. CNBC.

Rabson, M. (2020, May 7) 'Stop kicking us while we're down': Alberta premier has harsh words for politicians who say oil industry is dead. CTV News.

Troianovski, A. (2020, June 25) A Historic Heat Wave Roasts Siberia. New York Times.

 
 

Dragon details collected from www.dragonsofinaction.com,
courtesy of Professor Robert Gifford and the University of Victoria.

Cover artwork based on works by Paweł Czerwiński