Abstract

While the question of sustainability has received more and more attention and publicity in the past decades, all ecosystems services has been constantly deteriorating during the same period. There is an abyss between theory and rhetoric and meaningful and effective action. Our present-day socio-ecological crisis is the result of a distorted world view which in turn is caused by deep psychological mechanisms affecting the individual and the society. Recognizing these underlying mechanisms, making people aware of how they work might help change the suicidal course that the developed societies based on free market capitalism, neoliberal ideology and excessive consumerism has been on in the last two hundred years. This paper aims to discuss some of the obstacles that seem to have been hindering effective action.

Highlights

  • Few years ago, a prominent ecologist and university lecturer asked the following question: „How is it possible that virtually nothing is done to avoid a catastrophe which is known by everybody and is approaching unstoppably?”

  • Inaction may seem even more enigmatic in the light of a study published by Nature in which 70% of respondents were aware of the expected consequences of climate change [38]

  • When decision makers recognize the problem, it may already be a crisis with irretrievable loss already suffered.” [35:114]

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Summary

Introduction

A prominent ecologist and university lecturer asked the following question: „How is it possible that virtually nothing is done to avoid a catastrophe which is known by everybody and is approaching unstoppably?”

Creeping normalcy
Denial
Cry wolf effect
Possession
Technological optimism or waiting for the miracle
Findings
Conclusions
Full Text
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