GEOG 438W
Human Dimensions of Global Warming

9: Individual Behavior and Collective Action

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This week, we're going to explore the tension between two opposing narratives about who's to 'blame' for climate change and who therefore needs to 'fix' the problem.  And, like many of the topics we've explored this semester, it all boils down to scale!  (Geography matters!!!)  We hear a lot about the agency of individuals in the fight against climate change, but what does it mean when a global oil company encourages us to reduce our fuel consumption?  As you'll see, there aren't any simple answers, but we're going to dig in and explore these topics with the ultimate goal in mind of using what we learn for effective and constructive science communication.

Because this topic is evolving and dynamic, your primary responsibility will be the readings assigned in Canvas.  There are no associated lesson content pages here for this week.

What will we learn?

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to identify and discuss the following:

  • the relative merits of encouraging (and participating in) individual action to address the climate crisis
  • the shortcomings of relying on individual action to address the climate crisis
  • the relative merits of systemic collective action to address the climate crisis
  • the shortcomings of systemic collective action to address the climate crisis

    What is due this week?

    This lesson will take us one week to complete. Please refer to the corresponding module in Canvas for specific assignments, deliverables, and due dates.

    Questions?

    If you have questions, please feel free to post them to the "Have a question about the lesson?" discussion forum in Canvas. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help a classmate.