Unseen urgency: Delay as the new denial

Abstract

The scientific grounds for the urgency of action to limit climate change are relatively well‐understood. Much less well appreciated, however, are the contingent, but nevertheless profound, political reasons for the urgency of immediate robust action. Most important is the fact, insufficiently appreciated by many normative and economic theorists, that some of the most powerful and wealthy political institutions and economic organizations on the planet are firmly committed to delaying effective action on climate change as long as possible so that they can retain and enhance their current wealth and power resting on fossil fuel assets. Ruthless and entrenched opponents resist actions to slow climate change, and delay is the new denial. The deception practiced by those whose vast wealth and power depends on slowing the transition away from the combustion of fossil fuels necessitates the building of social movements and political campaigns to expose their falsehoods and diversions and to explain and justify transformative alternatives to potentially active citizens. The opponents of climate action have been active for decades and have built powerful political coalitions. The supporters of climate action need to confront them urgently with yet more powerful political coalitions because the remaining time for winning the struggle is shrinking fast. Action is urgent because deceptive delay is relentless.