Well-meaning discourses of climate delay

Abstract

Non-technical summary Lamb et al. (2020) identified 12 discourses used by a counter-movement to delay or weaken action to limit climate change. This commentary notes three discourses used by those promoting such action that can also delay meaningful action: insisting on transformational change to the exclusion of incremental change, downplaying the value of emissions targets, and focusing attention on adaptation. Social media summary Discourses of climate delay: reject incremental changes and emissions targets as diversions, focus on adaptation.