#Repeating #facts #worse
DOUGLAS, Isle of Man, Aug. 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — “When we say facts don’t work anymore, part of the problem is that I keep giving you the same facts,” Professor Benoît explained when he addressed the problem of convincing climate skeptics with more scientific data.
Temperature records don’t necessarily change minds
This summer’s heatwave across Europe – including record temperatures in a number of countries – has resulted in a flood of meteorological data tracking historical temperature changes. The role of climate change was prominent in the coverage, with some researchers claiming it made 2022’s heatwaves up to 10 times more likely.
Benoît – who believes climate change has brought humanity “to the edge of catastrophe” – warned against relying solely on this type of data to change opinions. “Look at the temperature” – well, that didn’t convince me before. Why do you think it’ll convince me now? You repeat the same thing seven times differently – and wonder why I’m not convinced?’
Climate polarization often “rational”
Speaking of Discussions on climate podcast – a joint production of United Renewables and the London Business School – Benoît criticized the notion that the polarization in the climate debate is just a result of irrationality among skeptics. Instead, he referred to his own work on rational polarization—the idea that opinions on an issue might logically differ in the face of new data because that data is being evaluated according to pre-existing, rational arguments.
On the subject of high energy prices in Europe and their importance for climate policy, Professor Benoît distinguished between polarization about causes and polarization about solutions – with implications for the communication of climate risks.
“Both groups may agree that if you invested more in fossil fuels, there would be more fossil fuels. And if…
Read on GNW: Repeating “the same facts” only gets worse