Fourteenth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

The science of climate change is irrefutable. The politics of climate change is tentative at best and irrational at worst. Yet, the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. Can democracies cope? To cope with climate change demands long terms perspectives and solutions. To cope with climate change demands a science/fact/rational based approach to solving public problems. Such an approach is not usually part of democratic decision making and the democratic political process. Foresight, perspicuity and circumspection do not characterize democratic decision making. Democracies can not cope with the Covid crisis which is immediate and visible. How will democracies deal with such a long term and overwhelming problem such as climate change? Democracies generally reach decisions that minimize immediate pain, do not provide for deferred gratification and fail to consider long term consequences that demand immediate sacrifices today. None of these qualities bode well for addressing climate change. This paper makes the argument that without fundamental change, democratic decision making is incapable of dealing with climate change. Specifically, this paper argues: (1) The requirements of dealing with climate change are not the characteristics traditionally associated with democratic decision making, and (2) A new form of democratic decision making, which is discussed and delineated in the paper, is required.