“Too much information” about climate change triggers cognitive

DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, June 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — During his appearance on the latest episode of Discussions on climateSpeaking to the United Renewables podcast, which focuses on improving the quality of public discourse on the issue, Professor Likierman questioned the “more is better” approach to climate communication.

“If you don’t know the scientific basis, it’s very difficult to cope with the deluge of data on such a ‘complicated, tense subject,'” he said. “There’s an overabundance of information — so I think most people would understandably come back to the question, ‘Who do I trust?’

Likierman—whose own research analyzes the issue of judgment in corporate decision-making—connected these information and trust issues to a number of cognitive biases identified by academic psychologists, including:

• Confirmation bias: Cherry-picking data or trusting intermediaries according to one’s beliefs
• Proximity Bias: Overvaluing our immediate surroundings when making judgments and undervaluing information from geographically distant locations
• Skepticism about “motivated information” offered by emotionally charged communicators

Christopher Caldwell, CEO of United Renewables and host of Discussions on climateresponded by asking Professor Likierman where he saw “optimism” in humanity’s efforts to overcome these prejudices.

“There is the issue of generations. It’s all good for us, but what about the children and grandchildren?

“The actions you are taking now are delayed. I think this is the way to appeal, and do it in a way that doesn’t conflict with popular prejudice,” Professor Likierman replied.

United Renewables – a full-lifecycle developer of green energy projects in the UK – is putting its own resources into climate communication, working with the London Business School to make it happen Discussions on climate podcast. That…