This post concerns the article on climate change that Paul Duignan of Stuff NZ wrote, which sparked our interest.
He starts by analogizing climate change to a terrible health diagnosis from a doctor. Unlike health issues, treatment for climate change is a long way off.
He said that climate change is presented to the public like a drip feed. “Fed first part of the process- work the diagnosis – without having time to formulate clear treatment options”, Duignan says.
For example, he cited information from the Greater Wellington Regional Council that shows city areas are vulnerable to flooding.
He noted that the helpful information has caused people to be panicky. The people are concerned about the risk to their homes, assets, and places of work.
The report added that the regional and local governments wanted to consult with the coastal community to develop responses and options to climate change.
The writer relates his many experiences as a strategist, particularly in community engagement. He said there are usually two ends of the spectrum when consulting with the community.
The first end is when the government goes to the community, intending just to let the people speak out and provide data and information.
The other end is when the government comes to the community with a plan and tells them what will happen. These approaches are obviously on the extremes.
Duignan suggests that the best approach to dealing with climate change hazards is to be somewhere between the two extremes of the spectrum.
The reality is that when the community realizes the weight of the problem, they will soon ask for information and solutions, he added.
The author suggests that the government would be better positioned to devise possible indicative solutions, primarily for productive community discussions.
The article is a good reminder for climate change authorities in New Zealand, other countries, and even readers about better-handling climate change information.
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FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Image by David Mark from Pixabay