Why are people resistant to "believe in" global climate change?

Question

I'm asking this question because I am a scientist and have a hard time approaching non-"believers". I can probably more rationally talk with them if I know specifically why they are resistant to "believe" in global climate change. I use believe in quotes because it is a word used to convey the truth. In this case, they are falsly "believing" that climate change is not occuring.

So far I have received some very interesting answers. According to footpad.com, there would need to be 2.7 Earths to support everyone if they all lived like me (with my food choices, electricity, and vehicle usage). I definitely agree that there's a certain amount of greed. I also agree that people would rather not "believe" in something that may be partially their fault. Take a look at MikeinRI's answer, along those same lines, that it's too difficult to understand something so big.

Answer 1

Some because many people have heard of possible doomsday scenario events before and they come and they pass. There are many reasons for "global climate change" that may have nothing to do with human interaction with nature. There is also the belief by people that it does not matter because the damage is done so why worry about it. There are many more reasons, but I would be answering this question forever. However, I do have a theory.

My theory is that when it comes to "global climate change" many people refuse to believe in it because it contradicts their view of how the world works. Let me give you an example of Felix Frankfurter who was an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Frankfurter during a period of time that included World War Two. He was a Jew by birth, practice and faith. During this time a Polish freedom figher had come to the United States to report on the atrocities the Nazi occupation of Poland. The man reported to Frankfurter that he had seen the mass murder of Jews and the Nazi Death Camps in his country. Frankfurter thanks for man for his report but then said he did not believe him. That man became angry thinking Frankfurter was calling him a liar. Frankfurter said - no I do not think you are a liar - just that what you are saying does not agree with my world view so I do not believe it can be so. I believe that people today when they are denying global climate change are doing the same thing as Frankfurter was in denying the existance of the Holocaust. Frankfurter eventually came around and these others I believe (unless they are insane) will come along as well. People are not always rational in what they do. If they were then there would be no love or hate in the world would there not?

Answer 2

Because people always want to be "the one thats right and the one thats different" and therefore they try to discredit global climate change. One proven fact though is that not one of those people that are preaching that global climate change is not an issue has anything to do with environmental science. I will try to find the article i read in which it states that not one scientist or environmentalist has disproven global climate change. Yet the skeptics have degrees in politics, economy and the such....hmmm makes ya think right? Heres a pretty neat website everyone should take a look at...just be warned that its very very shocking! www.myfootprint.org Good Luck!

Answer 3

Most of the country is own by the oil company's they call global climate change flawed science because they are becoming billionaires off of the oil. They do have alternative fuels that are non polluting. Brazil is using them now. They know about corn ethanol. No government office will help in getting it put into use.
86% of the oil company's are owned by Republicans.
So they are insisting that we are not having climate change.
But how many years did the tobacco company's say that tobacco didn't hurt people. At one time it was advertised to help with lung problems. Why? Because it makes people a lot of money.
You say how could people do something they knew would hurt people. Every day illegal drugs and tobacco is sold.
One day it will be to late and there will be no stopping it.
When it is proved to be true it will be to late. It is like finding out you have lung cancer and that it was caused by tobacco smoke.
What can you do now?

Answer 4

I would like to point out that what used to be called "global warming" is now called "global climate change." This takes the discussion away from "human activity," itself a euphemism for industrial pollution, and makes it seem that the whole thing, "if true," is some kind of natural, unavoidable, not-human-fault thing.

Powerful corporations, abetted by their powerful friends in office, don't want people to know about the role their activities have in the increase in global temperatures. They have insisted that "scientists do not agree," even though the scientific debate is over and they are unanimous. They use words and confusion to throw sand in the public's eyes, so as to continue doing whatever they do.

And individual people don't want to think about it, beyond realizing that they will have to change their ways, like not buying SUVs and having to put up with windmills nearby and being energy efficient.

So there is a lot of denial, and a lot of just turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the facts, as they are very inconvenient.

Answer 5

The reason people don't believe in global climate changes is mainly because the changes are miniscule and not very apparent which forces people to deduce that the climate is not changing. For instance, if you live in the North pole, an increase or decrease in temperture will not affect an individual tremendously, even thought the glacies might be melting. As humans, I think that we are more reactive to events that are more dramatic.

Answer 6

Because there are still people, a great many people, out there preaching that global warming is not real, not happening, and no threat to our climate. People will tend to seek out and listen to people who say what they want to hear.

Answer 7

It is easy to stick your head into the sand, and pretend nothing is wrong!
I remember in the 70's the winters started in November and lasted to February.
Now winters in the UK start in February and end in March.
Climate change in living memory, it is happening!

Answer 8

Because they doubt the proclaimers motivation...it's not that people don't believe in the changes...just the people that have something to gain.....
Even if it's true, it's not going to happen in the next couple of decades. Plus if its caused by changes on the sun..then there's nothing you can do about it anyway. Plus + its the nature of people to be skeptical.

Answer 9

People today will believe anything that scientists will throw at them. But it is just a phase of the Earth going in its circulation of the Sun. So dont worry about Global Warming or what ever the heck they call it.

Answer 10

because they would have to change to fix it and it would cause some of them to lose money some people wont accept change others are too greedy to care so it just goes on until something happens that will force them to change