Why Are Nevadans Ignoring The Signs Of Climate Change?

Heat Rises

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"This is a record-breaking hot year", "2023 has set a record globally for being the hottest pre-industrial year on record", "The heat index is at an all-time high". If you have been on our planet for more than a few years, these phrases probably sound familiar to you. Drought, heat, and dwindling resources have been our companions it seems constantly for a long time now.

Why Don't We Listen?

If our current living conditions are in peril, then why don't we heed the warnings? I know I am very much the ostrich with my head in the sand—although that sounds pretty uncomfortable if it is the hot desert sand in our area—ignoring the warnings and hoping that, somehow, we will just be able to miraculously continue living the status quo. But why? Why don't I get involved on a personal or public level? Not that it makes my denial any better, but here are 3 reasons I think I get stuck in the turn my head and hope syndrome.

Is Our Environmental Cause Hopeless?

Perhaps the doom information is spread too effectively. I honestly cannot remember the last time I have read a story that reported an environmental positive. When I look into the issue I feel like I am talking to a pessimistic senior citizen that delights in reporting how bad things are.

Read More: These Foods Might Help You Stay Cool

Population Problem

This is also probably not intentional, but the solutions presented seem to include decreasing human beings in the equation. I know that human beings are part of the burden this planet bears, but the Thanos style thinking of numerical elimination does not seem like the answer. The Population control argument seems to be the same one, but by elimination before the human is introduced. Everyone seems to know the argument is uncomfortable, so it turns into vague finger pointing without spelling out a specific solution. As Jim Gaffigan once noted, "we have too many kids, but if we did anything about it now, people would get so upset."

The Big Spend

Spending does not seem to yield solutions either. We have had opportunities to vote with our dollars and yet the heat seems to just increase despite us. I know some would roll their eyes and explain that we have not spent enough, but if spending a lot were to fix the problem wouldn't spending a little start us toward it? It seems like we used to hear arguments about changing your life habits, but that seems to have gone away in favor of taxation or programs that would fix things if we would just agree to support them.

What do you think? Are these reasons legit or is it time for me to get off my hot couch and do something about it?