Hanley Sustainability Institute
Bloomfield’s public talk to discuss how to engage climate change skeptics
By Mark Gokavi
A professor from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas who specializes in the intersection of science and religious rhetoric will present a talk entitled, "Communication, Religion, and Climate Change," from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 13 in the University of Dayton’s Sears Recital Hall.
Emma Bloomfield’s presentation, largely based on her book, is open to the public. During her two-day visit to UD, Bloomfield also will meet with select faculty and classes.
In her book, “Communication Strategies for Engaging Climate Skeptics,” Bloomfield writes that “a disconnect exists between those that are concerned and alarmed about the degradation of the environment and those that deny humanity’s role in climate change.”
In the introduction, Bloomfield writes that the vocal presence of skeptics and deniers is loud and that those “who do trust in the mainstream scientific data may be overwhelmed by the prominence of skeptical voices or might feel like their actions are insignificant to solve the monumental crisis that now faces us.”
Bloomfield writes that there are climate deniers in all levels of government and that scholars have addressed the nature of the skepticism and denial to learn more about why people reject the scientific climate change consensus.
She cites other researchers’ factors for delays in policy action, such as industry strategies, conservative think tanks funding alternative voices, general ignorance about climate change, journalism practices keeping climate skeptics in the media, political bias and digital discourse.
“In this book, I add to existing work on climate change skepticism by addressing a facet of skepticism that is rooted in faith,” she writes. “Specifically, I discuss American Christianity as a potential source of skepticism and a competing narrative to the one that mainstream science tells about the natural world. Within this dynamic, I also explore the ways that Christianity intersects with environmentalism in positive ways.”
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