date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 21:00:29 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
from: Irene Lorenzoni <I.Lorenzoni@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: RE: extreme events as catalysts
to: Trudie Dockerty <t.dockerty@uea.ac.uk>, s.nicholson-cole@uea.ac.uk,  Mike Hulme <m.hulme@uea.ac.uk>

Dear Mike, Trudie and Sophie

thanks for your interesting comments.  I agree with the 
importance of extreme events as foci for public and 
governmental opinion - my view is that if they are 
sufficiently broad in terms of the physical impacts caused 
(e.g. widespread flooding in Germany as the visitor we had 
last Thursday was mentioning, which provided the catalyst 
for the German government to legislate on flood protection 
etc) they will almost certainly lead to 'reactive' 
behaviour.  They might also induce also proactive 
mitigative behaviour.

However, from my experience and research work I would also 
agree with Trudie's point on the fact that the general 
public perceive climate change as episodic ie manifesting 
itself when extremes occur.  For mitigative as well as 
adaptive behaviour to take place, I have often heard the 
argument that 'climate change' needs to be present in 
people's daily lives.  They should be reminded that it is a 
continuously occurring and evolving phenomenon, either in 
the form of added premiums for renewable energies, reduced 
railpass as encouragement for alternative modes of 
transport, regular coverage on the media.

In other words, I agree that extreme events can be 
catalysts for change for those affected and for 
governmental policy, but for mitigation to take place 
seriously, climate change should be on everyone's daily 
agenda.  

Irene

On Thu, 13 Mar 2003 18:59:11 -0000 Trudie Dockerty 
<t.dockerty@uea.ac.uk> wrote:

> Thanks for this - haven't had a read yet but to press the 
> point - I do think from my experiences of visiting 
> government agencies, NGOs and local authorities that there 
> is a growing awareness of the issue but people 
> don't necessarily link cause and effect i.e. their actions 
> to climate change - we all need empowering through better 
> educational programmes that make these links - i.e. switch 
> off the light - save energy - save power station emissions 
> - reduce ghg - reduce climate change.  Most programmes stop 
> at the 'save energy' stage and people don't make the link.  
> Also it would be quite interesting to do a study to see if 
> there is a trend (beginning prior to the formation of IPCC) 
> in the frequency with which climate change is mentioned in 
> the media - I feel sure an increased 'nagging' through an 
> ever increasing range of reports is keeping the issue at 
> least in the back of people's minds and this increasing 
> discomfort will eventually push people into taking steps in 
> the right direction - if they are presented with practical 
> actions they can take.  The biggest feedback I have had in 
> talking to people about climate change is how powerless 
> they feel to do anything about it - there is a huge 
> opportunity I think to engage people through 'show and 
> tell'.  We have to start with small measures to engage in 
> the process and reduce the resistance to bigger actions 
> that will be needed before long.   I don't disagree with 
> you at all but that can't be The End - surely somehow we 
> must try and do something alongside waiting for the 'aha' 
> moment to dawn after each catastrophe?
> 
> Anyway! No reply necessary - just adding my thoughts - hope 
> you don't mind!
> 
> regards
> 
> Trudie
> 
> 
> 
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Hulme [mailto:m.hulme@uea.ac.uk]
> Sent: 13 March 2003 15:34
> To: i.lorenzoni@uea.ac.uk; s.nicholson-cole@uea.ac.uk; 
> t.oriordan@uea.ac.uk; t.dockerty@uea.ac.uk
> Subject: extreme events as catalysts
> 
>   I realise that changes in regulatory behaviour re. 
> adaptation is not the same as changing underlying 
> lifestyles and mitigation, but I still think for climate 
> change we rely fundamentally on people's personal 
> experiences - the more extreme the better - coinciding with 
> scientific narratives giving meaning to those experiences 
> in order to motivate behavioral change.
> 
>   Mike
> 
> 

 --------------------------
 Ms Irene Lorenzoni
 CER (and CSERGE)
 School of Environmental Sciences
 University of East Anglia, Norwich  NR4 7TJ  UK
 Tel: + 44 (0)1603 593173  Fax: +44 (0)1603 593739
 Email: i.lorenzoni@uea.ac.uk  

