I am writing on the Gina McCarthy interview on Climate Change.
The most surprising part of this video for me is the idea that it could be more effective to convince people of climate change via doctors or clergy instead of the scientists that are actually conducting the research on this subject. Gina McCarthy says that she has done this because people don’t tend to question their doctors or leaders in their faith community. While this is not necessarily surprising, hearing it said out loud by someone of her stature was very striking to me because it doesn’t make much sense. Doctors are basing their diagnoses on science and past knowledge, which is very similar to what climate change experts are using. Faith leaders are largely not using any science in their explanations of the world. This sets up an interesting contrast that I am struggling to reason with and is leaving me with more questions than answers. If people believe doctors, then why wouldn’t they believe similarly qualified climate experts. Is it because they know a doctor’s diagnosis will almost certainly effect them in their lifetime while climate change has a much larger uncertainty?