Einstein is credited with coining the adage that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” Unfortunately, it describes too well our collective and individual attitude towards the actions to be taken to effectively combat climate change, as evidenced by a recent SOM survey conducted on behalf of The Press.
Indeed, it is clear that changes in the behavior of individuals and organizations do not have a significant effect on the course of things.
However, when we look at the polls on the subject, it becomes clear that the extent of the climate problem is well understood by the population: according to the Climate Action Barometer at Laval University, no less than 85%. of Quebecers believe there is an urgent need to act.
How can we explain this gap between knowledge and action, or in other words, what are the obstacles to citizen climate action? This is THE question we must ask ourselves.
Part of the answer, we believe, lies in how we approach climate action. In the last 30 years, environmentalist discourse has mainly focused on highlighting everything that should be renounced to avoid the worst. We describe the (very real) cataclysmic consequences associated with inaction — convinced, therefore, that fear is sufficient motivator for citizens to mobilize.
This speech had the merit of ensuring that today, the principle according to which it is necessary and urgent to act for the climate is largely consensual, which is already a great victory – but we must recognize in the same breath that this is clearly not enough.
To this discourse, we propose to oppose another, focused on gains, whether in terms of health, food, human relations, equity or even affordability. So, rather than making the climate a reason in itself to act, we propose to reverse the reasoning: what changes would increase our quality of life while having a positive impact on the climate?
Such a fundamental discussion then necessarily changes framework, to relate directly to our way of life, in the broad sense, understood as a set of behaviors and habits shared by a community, and which is based on a certain number of values.
The other part of the answer to the gap between knowing and doing is that our way of life and social norms are in many ways incompatible with the changes needed. To get out of this straitjacket, to reinvent it collectively, we will have to examine each of the habits that are harmful to the climate, but also unsuitable for our current reality. Campaigns to develop social acceptability and exciting new proposals will be necessary.
It will always be difficult, if not impossible, to convince each individual one by one. Developing social acceptability will make it possible to put pressure on public authorities, first and foremost governments, to adopt the laws and regulations necessary to bring about changes on a collective scale, as we have done with tobacco, for the seat belt, for drunk driving.
Or as we did for the Quiet Revolution — taking control of our collective destiny, overturning a set of social norms in the process, was no easy feat. But we succeeded, only to find ourselves freer in the end. We are convinced that Quebec has everything it takes to build today the foundation of a more egalitarian, fairer and more eco-responsible society. Let’s get to work.