The science is clear: human induced climate change is driving longer and more intense fire seasons. Experts agree with this and most firefighters understand it. Yet there remains deep climate denial among many firefighters.
According to research from Griffith University, only a tiny percentage of the population are outright climate change deniers. Many people are just uncertain or hesitant to accept the science. The research found that approximately 2% of the survey population were climate change deniers, 5% were sceptics, and 16% are unconvinced about climate change. The vast majority (77%) were firm believers in the reality of climate change.
Climate denial is about cultural identification, not facts
More and more, climate change denial is about political and cultural identification rather than facts: the research found that “climate change denial, disregard, and inaction were more common among the older, less highly educated, and more politically conservative members of the survey population.”
We know that rural volunteer brigades are more likely to be made up of older and conservative people. This can explain the denial that we experience out on the fireground.
It raises a question about how we engage, and whether we even attempt to convince our comrades about the reality of the fire – climate change connection. At 2%, the outright deniers have no real impact on state or federal climate policy. The older angry white demographic will always be large enough to put a few people into parliament (this is the niche filled by One Nation for instance). But they have negligible influence on where mainstream politics are going in terms of response to climate change given the fact that acceptance of climate science is now the mainstream position.
What is of more worry are the Coalition. Those who vote for the Coalition have generally less interested in seeing meaningful action on climate change. In the Griffith research, voters who support the Liberal and National Parties were less likely to consider climate change when voting.
Firefighting is changing
But this is changing. Younger people have a strong understanding that climate change is real and being driven by human activity. And even among National Party voters, 54% say they will consider climate when voting. Demographics in many regional centres are changing and certainly in peri urban areas, which are becoming more diverse, which provide many of the volunteers in our brigades.
Talking about climate change and fire
So, do we even bother to raise the issue of climate change in our brigades? Much of the feedback we get at AFCA is that individuals tend to ‘keep their head down’ rather than raise the issue with others in their brigade, fearing it might lead to conflict or ostracization. Part of the reason AFCA was established was to provide a space for grassroots firefighters to share their views about climate change and fire.
But until you ‘have the conversation’ to test the level of acceptance of the science, your brigade cannot take the next step, which is to publicly express a view on climate change.
So it is worth raising the issue. Pick the right time, and see how you go. We would love to hear your experience of having the conversation about climate change.
A range of resources about talking with climate change deniers
Researcher Arunima Krishna says that before you engage a climate change denier, try to understand their perspective first. Try to gauge: how strong their attitudes are, how motivated they are by climate change, what kinds, and to what extent, have they accepted climate change misinformation
Krishna says that climate change misinformation and disinformation amplifiers are a small minority of the population. When it comes to denial, most can be classified as disinformation-vulnerable and/or disinformation-receptive individuals.
https://www.bu.edu/articles/2022/how-do-i-talk-to-a-climate-change-denier/
According to this guide, if your friend or family member is a climate change denier, you won’t make progress by arguing with them. Instead, think about framing issues on their terms.
Speak to their values: Politically, if your friend leans to the right, talk about climate change through the lens of their core values.
https://rare.org/blog/climate-change-conversations-guide/
- Introduce the topic casually – and ask lots of questions
- Find points of connection and similarity
3.Come prepared with evidence – but know when to back off
Below is a listing of the articles in “How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic,” a series by Coby Beck containing responses to the most common skeptical arguments on global warming.
https://grist.org/climate/skeptics-2/
The CFA position on climate change and fire.
https://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/news/high-risk-bushfire-days-set-to-soar-this-century
NSW Rural Fire Service: Climate change forcing rethink on fire risk
Australian Firefighters Climate Alliance 