Opinion | 10 mistakes in the War on Climate Change

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October 02, 2020

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by Bill Shireman and Trammel S. Crow (Planet Forward at GW) ... Constant gloom-and-doom exhausts our supporters, funds our opponents, and makes the war on climate change so profitable to cynical political and media manipulators that they’d prefer to risk the end of the world, rather than sacrifice a crisis they can exploit for years.

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Only competition between the parties — a battle for how and not whether to solve the problem — makes saving the world a sensible political strategy.

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There is one way out, but it’s so radical few will entertain it. End the war. Join forces with past enemies. Engage in radical collaboration.

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Here are 10 traps environmental donors and activists are lured into, and ideas on how to free ourselves to get the job done:

MISTAKE NO. 1: SELLING CATASTROPHE

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A better way: Cultivate hope and optimism.

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MISTAKE NO. 2: DEMONIZING TOO MANY ENEMIES

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A better way: ... We need to engage stakeholders across the system to understand our mutual struggles and work together for change.

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MISTAKE NO. 3: SPEAKING ONLY TO THE LEFT

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A better way: Speak with conservatives in their own language. Understand their worldview. Respect their desire to protect what we have. Develop policy options that reflect their priorities.

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MISTAKE NO. 4: DISMISSING CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP

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A better way: ... Learn how many farmers and ranchers are shifting to regenerative agriculture.

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MISTAKE NO. 5: CONDEMNING CLIMATE DENIAL

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A better way: The best remedy for climate denial is respect for conservative principles and acknowledgment that overconsumption threatens both our ecological and economic foundations.

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MISTAKE NO. 6: ALIGNING TIGHTLY WITH DEMOCRATS

Over 70% of the public is with us. Aligning with either party turns our majority into a minority.

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A better way: Grow an authentic bipartisan coalition where conservatives are free to advance their ideas for meeting the climate crisis, without sacrificing the economy.

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MISTAKE NO. 7: OPPOSING CORPORATISM WITH STATISM

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A better way: Use markets before mandates. Support effective corporate campaigns. Mobilize activists and consumers to avoid companies that aren’t part of the solution. When companies step up, reward them, ....

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MISTAKE NO. 8: JUST BUYING ACCESS AND INFLUENCE

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Some of this will likely be necessary. But too much can backfire in two ways.

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A better way: End-run the power-brokers. Invade from two directions at once. Organize the left and right together.

MISTAKE NO. 9: SUING THE BASTARDS

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It feels good to sue the bastards. But it just creates more bastards.

A better way: Stop creating bastards. Challenge fossil fuel companies to put real resources behind their commitments — lobbying resources that can shift the Republican Party’s position on climate, and compel Democrats to collaborate on real solutions.

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MISTAKE NO. 10: DECLARING WAR ON CLIMATE CHANGE

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A better way: Stop the war. Start creating. Engage capitalists, activists, conservatives, progressives, and libertarians. Explore solutions that apply the best ideas from all of them. End-run the debt-and-consumption machine. READ MORE

Noam Chomsky Does Not Think the Planet Is Doomed (Yet): The Green New Deal wouldn’t require as much effort as World War II, says the linguist in his new book. (The New Republic)