Climate Change: The Floridian Paradox

December, 2017
According to the 2017 climate science report by
NOAA:

1)Hurricanes are expected to increase in

intensity due to warmer oceans and high
sea levels
Wuebbles, D et al. (2017). U.S. global change research program climate science special report (Fifth-order draft, pp. 375-378, Rep.).
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Global Change Research Program.
According to the 2017 climate science report by
NOAA:

2) Hurricanes are expected to occur in

new places due to the expansion of the
tropics towards Earth’s poles

Wuebbles, D et al. (2017). U.S. global change research program climate science special report (Fifth-order draft, pp. 375-378, Rep.).
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Global Change Research Program.
According to the 2017 climate science report by
NOAA:
3) Hurricanes are not currently predicted to
increase in frequency, they may actually
decrease in frequency

Wuebbles, D et al. (2017). U.S. global change research program climate science special report (Fifth-order draft, pp. 375-378, Rep.).
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Global Change Research Program.
But what do Floridians feel about
hurricanes and climate change?
 The Interview Questions:

1) Do you live in Florida?

2) How did the recent hurricanes Irma
and Harvey make you feel?

1) How do you feel about Climate

Change?

Asking 10 people how they feel about climate change as

they walk on Bayshore Boulevard
 Overview of Interview Responses

● People were very receptive.

● Most of the survees got hung up on the word “feel.”

● When asked how they felt about the recent hurricanes, a feeling
of fear was unanimously expressed.

● When asked how they felt about climate change, there was more
variation: anger, frustration, hope.
 What do these interview responses mean for us as humane educators?

● Asking how people feel, rather than what they think, can cause
them to pause and reflect around a topic before answering.

● While an isolated natural event (hurricane) may cause a

unanimous emotion in people, a larger continuous event
(climate change) causes more emotional complexity
 Communication Suggestions:
People enjoy telling others what they think and feel. Regardless
of their belief, this is one way to end the “spiral of silence”
around climate change.

Maybe we don’t always need to teach people, rather we can

practice:
● creating empty space

● geting people talking

● using non-judgmental listening skills

 Assessment Questions:

The title of this presentation was Climate Change: The Floridian

Paradox. What is this paradox?
 Assessment Questions:

What percentage of Floridians think that global warming will

affect them personally?
 Assessment Questions:

What are the three ways hurricanes around the world

expected to change?
 Assessment Questions:

I offered some suggestions for communicating about climate

change. Give me some examples of these suggestions.