Pretending something doesn’t exist doesn’t make it not exist
By Kevin Reed
On a macro scale, what is the point of pretending something doesn’t exist if we know that, in fact, it does exist?
We currently have an administration that has ordered the removal of any reference to climate change within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). We are adults who are living, working, and raising families in this country, and anyone with even the most basic research abilities can learn about climate change and verify its reality through range of reliable sources, across funding, geography, disciplines, businesses, governments, education and research institutions, and organizations.
But somehow we still have, what, like 48% of the nation that is either confused about it or simply denying its existence entirely. Why do we put up with it? So while the USDA is no longer allowed to say climate change or refer to any context around climate change, here are the real life challenges that US farmers are facing today from climate change:
Increasing temperatures: Rising temperatures reduce crop yields, especially for heat-sensitive crops like corn and wheat. Higher nighttime temperatures can also increase stress on plants.
Water shortages: Less water and more droughts make soil dryer and also decrease the amount of water you have available for irrigation.
changes in weather patterns: Climate change brings bigger storms, more and larger floods, and hurricanes damage crops. These events wash topsoil away and disrupt planting and harvesting schedules.
Shifting seasons: Changing growing seasons moves growing cycles out of pollination periods, impacting pollination rates and yields.
Pests and disease: As temperatures rise, there are more pests and diseases impacting crops. This increases the need for chemical treatments impacts farmers’ bottom line.
Soil Degradation – Increased heat and heavy rainfall contribute to soil erosion, nutrient loss, and reduced soil fertility, making it harder to maintain productive farmland.
Livestock Stress – Higher temperatures and extreme weather reduce livestock productivity, causing heat stress that lowers milk production, fertility rates, and health.
Wildfires – Wildfires are becoming more widespread globally, destroying farm and grazing lands.
Changing Water Resources – Melting snowpacks and changing precipitation patterns disrupt water supply for irrigation, particularly in the western U.S., which relies heavily on mountain snowmelt.
Economic Losses and Increased Costs – Farmers face higher costs due to increased insurance claims, lower yields, infrastructure damage, and the need for more expensive adaptive technologies.
Loss of land - in areas like the Chesapeake Bay region, famers are losing land as sea levels rise. The land is either covered by water or becomes unfarmable as brackish and salt water move up through the water table.
These challenges require adaptation strategies, such as improved water management, drought-resistant crops, and changes in farming practices, but they also pose significant risks to food production and rural economies.
But yeah, let’s pretend climate change doesn’t exist. Good plan! WTF.
So why do so many pretend it’s not reality? Some possibilities:
Cognitive dissidence: People have strong worldviews, and when reality clashes with those, they have to make choices that threaten their core being and outlooks.
Fear and Anxiety: The scope of something like climate change can be frightening to some people and so they avoid it.
Social and Political Identity: Political groups have aligned against climate change data for decades. If “your” people have this view, you’ll likely have it, or you’d have to be in conflict with your groups, something a lot of folks are unwilling to do. It’s scary and takes courage.
Self-Interest: “I’m making money from something that causes climate change” or “acknowledging climate reality might cost me money somewhere.” This obviously leaves out the massive market opportunities with new technologies, jobs, products, and services around sustainable energy.
Lack of Immediate Consequences: “Everything’s fine.” If your daily life is the same, why care? But, if you realize that these things really are impacting your insurance rates, national security, taxes, healthcare costs, and a long list of other things, you can see that it really does impact you on a daily basis.
Psychological Defense Mechanisms: Denial is a common coping mechanism to avoid stress, guilt, or a sense of helplessness. Accepting something like climate change might make a person feel hopeless.
Misinformation and Echo Chambers: If you plug in to yelling podcasts and to news stations that have been sued successfully for lying, then you are likely consuming unreliable content. If you hear all the time that "climate change is a hoax," then you’ll likely be swallowing that narrative instead of taking a small effort to double check that content.
Authority Figures and Media Influence: When leaders, media outlets, or influencers deny something, the folks listening to everything they say will deny it as well and steer clear of any available scientific or factual evidence. These folks would do better to learn about something and then look for politicians and media outlets that align with observable evicence, and who are willing to update their views based on new evidence.
Seems like, with many of the people denying reality today, it’s a commination of the above. But having a leader who buys into this crap is only going to make it worse, with many years of negative impacts to come.
If you understand all this, I’m preaching to the choir. If you don’t, then maybe take the effort (only an hour or two. probably) to learn about climate change - and any topics - from reliable sources.
