Climate Change is a Collective Crisis

Naomi Klein discusses her new book This Changes Everything, in which she says it's time to stop counting on the politicians to save the planet.

I see that Wendy Mesley knows how to challenge and probe a guest, even toss a sardonic quip, and do it all with grace and charm.  In turn, Klein keeps calm and centered, as she relates her book thesis: 

[What people face in climate change is] the essence of a collective crisis: We can’t just respond through individual shopping decisions; we have to respond through bold collective action [particularly from the government]. 

On their own, individual efforts will not get us there (e.g. changing our light bulbs). That has been our model for 20 years, and it hasn’t worked well enough. We cannot rely on politicians, undoubtedly because of their partisan interests and personal motives.  Some leaders are actually on the streets, running movements. Why did you write this?  Having a son made Klein see her research on climate change in an emotional way, which is necessary, she adds.

I might take issue with Klein's seeming diminution of individual effort.  What we do at home, at work, and in the community on conserving energy are all integral to saving money, assuming responsibility, and making a contribution.  I do agree with her, however, that public officials, business leaders, and high level advisers must not fool themselves, or us, into thinking that they are exempt of any responsibility or contribution.  Moreover, her last point is very well taken: While many people may dismiss emotion as a hindrance to effective decision making, emotion is not only a necessary, but also an inviolable, part of any decision making.  It is our nature to be both logical and rational as well as emotional and intuitive.