Norgaard

Question 1

Do people care about climate change?

Answer 1

urban dwellers in the rich and powerful Northern countries climate change is seen as ‘no more than background noise.’

General apathy

Question 2

What two simple facts are essential for understanding climate change? Why do these matter?

Answer 2

1. global warming is the result of an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere
2. the single most important source of carbon dioxide is the combustion of fossil fuels, most notably coal and oil.

The general public should understand there. Therefore lack of understanding isn’t the issue

Question 3

What is the relationship between political economy and public perception?

Answer 3

the fossil fuel industry influence on government policy

Question 4

How can psychological theories on cognitive dissonance contribute to inaction?

Answer 4

‘dissonance’ as a condition which emerges when an actor has two thoughts (cognitions) that are inconsistent

Ex. respondents who are better informed about climate change feel less responsible for it.

No solution? People stopped caring

Question 5

When faced directly with climate change (directly impacted by lack of snow) what do people do?

Answer 5

They spent their days thinking about more local, manageable topics.

Question 6

Explain: “absurdity of the double life” or “double reality”

Answer 6

In one reality was the collectively constructed sense of normal everyday life.

In the other reality existed the troubling knowledge of increasing automobile use, polar ice caps melting, and the predictions for future weather scenarios.

Question 7

What is the big problem that makes people unengaged with climate change?

Answer 7

failure to integrate this knowledge into everyday life or transform it into social
action.

Question 8

Explain the three types of narratives Norgaard observed to deflect responsibility:

• selective interpretation,
• perspectival selectivity,
• claims to virtue.

Answer 8

• selective interpretation,
  “By portraying Norwegians as close to nature, egalitarian, simple and humble, these narratives of national identity served to counter the criticism and doubt Norwegians face with regards to climate and petroleum policies”
• perspectival selectivity,
  “people may manage unpleasant emotions by searching for and repeatedly telling stories of others who are worse off than they are.” (ex. America is much worse, Norway is a small country)
• claims to virtue.
  “emphasizing climate change as an international problem and attempting to meet Norwegian climate commitments through the trading of climate gas emissions `rather than reduction of actual output.”

Question 9

What is cultural denial?

Answer 9

Cultural norms of emotion limited the
extent to which community members could bring strong feelings they privately held
regarding climate change into the public political process, which in turn served to reinforce the sense that everything was fine.