Why are people afraid of addressing climate change?

Question

can anyone point to another instance in the history of mankind where an increase in efficiency fueled by innovation led to fewer jobs and a lower standard of living?

Answer 1

Only conservatives (usually Republicans) are afraid to because they do not like change.  They like traditional things, and like to keep doing things the same way all the time.  They like the status quo and do not want to be told that things are changing by scientists.

Answer 2

People are not afraid of addressing climate change, but it hasn't been proved true.  I refuse to take rash action in the attempt at addressing issues we know so little about.  I refuse to be the cause of people starving to death because of rash decisions gone wrong and the recent ethanol push is a perfect example of this.  Besides, what good is it going to do, when you have nations like China that are showing no signs of slowing down in their fossil fuel usage?

Answer 3

climate change is bad

Answer 4

Because it involves sacrifice. People wont be allowed to drive a mile to the shops for a mars bar if they had to deal effectively with the problem.

Because it demands such change, and such a drastic reduction in our lifestyles, people refuse to change.

Being afraid is good, most people don't care.

Answer 5

you will soon see, now want you?

Answer 6

The Soviet Union--

The entire premise of communism is "for the common good" ---------- the state ran everything with the goal of increasing production and the efficiency "of the people" and had elaborate 5 year manufacturing plans for every consumable item.... including caskets!

IT FAILED!

Answer 7

i agree with adam...people are afraid of change but they shouldn't because sometimes you have to change to survive you know? Eventually they will be forced to and it will be alot worse then doin it on their own....I have changed how i do a lot of things already!

Answer 8

People are afraid because it will be expensive to address climate change.  There will be efficiency gains, which will mitigate costs, but I don't think that you can avoid some costs. And those costs will be very big for some people (owners of energy companies, oil), but they will also affect everyone else (consumers of energy, oil).  

Even though it will be expensive, it will still be worth it.  Doing nothing and having to adapt to climate change will be costlier.  But of course it is hard to convince people of that.