A Vattenfall survey has found that the public see climate change as the main challenge of our age; while doomsday media coverage is compounding our anxiety about it, we're still looking to business and governments to save us.
In a recent survey, Swedish multinational energy firm Vattenfall polled
people in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark,
Finland, France and the UK about the emotions they experience in
relation to climate change. More than a third believe that climate change is the
most pressing global issue of our time, and more than 40 percent of respondents
admitted to feelings of anxiety.
The report also analyzed media coverage of climate change in the last year; and
the fact that the majority of it focuses on the severity of the issue and
therefore is negative in tone, which can create feelings of powerlessness and
understandably compound the public’s anxiety.
“It is clear that our emotions towards climate change have passed a tipping
point in society. As a company that produces and supplies energy, our ability to
make an impact is considerable and this report highlights that,” said Vattenfall
President and CEO Magnus Hall.
Last month, Vattenfall created what looked like an ordinary, yet incredibly
expensive,
crib
to illustrate the current difficulty in manufacturing everyday household items
without the use of fossil fuels. The company painstakingly rethought the entire
design and production process, combining futuristic and ancient methods, tools
and materials to make the crib without any fossil-based materials or energy —
so, it cost over $28,000 to produce.
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The energy company is on a mission to make fossil-free living not only possible,
but practical and affordable within one generation.
For this new report, Vattenfall consulted psychologist Renée Lertzman, who
has long studied the phenomenon of “climate anxiety” or “eco anxiety.”
Many respondents also felt that a balanced climate conversation can inspire
action, with which Lertzman agrees.
“A balanced conversation on climate
change
allows for all responses: we can be both vulnerable and scared, and brave and
activated. A balanced public conversation allows us to acknowledge the full
spectrum of these responses,” Lertzman said. “We no longer have to play the
ping-pong game between hope, optimism and despair. We can hold both and many
more of these truths together, knowing that our attempts to put our feelings and
responses into boxes is set-up for failure.”
Published Mar 12, 2020 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 12pm GMT / 1pm CET
Sustainable Brands Staff