[New paper argues direct action "by scientists has the potential
to cut through the myriad complexities... surrounding the climate
crisis in a way that less visible and dispassionate evidence provision
does not."]
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CLIMATE SCIENTISTS URGE MORE CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE TO SIGNAL ’HOW DEEP
IN THE SH*T WE ARE  
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Jessica Corbett
August 30, 2022
Common Dreams
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_ New paper argues direct action "by scientists has the potential to
cut through the myriad complexities... surrounding the climate crisis
in a way that less visible and dispassionate evidence provision does
not." _

Scientists protested in support of bold climate action on April 6,
2022 in Berlin., Scientist Rebellion

 

"WE HAVE LONG SINCE arrived at the point at which civil disobedience
by scientists has become justified."

That's according to an article published
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Monday in the journal _Nature Climate Change_ by five climate
scientists—Stuart Capstick, Aaron Thierry, Emily Cox, Steve
Westlake, and Julia K. Steinberger—and political scientist Oscar
Berglund, who focuses on civil disobedience and social movements.

The half-dozen scientists, who have all participated in and supported
groups engaged in civil disobedience pushing for action "to secure a
livable and sustainable future," argue that now is the time for
scientific experts to intensify their activism efforts.

"What we say in the article is that getting involved in this kind of
thing can actually add weight to the message that this is a crisis;
that these are decent people who know more than anybody else about how
deep in the shit we are, and are taking this kind of
action—nonviolent direct action, civil disobedience," Berglund told
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_The Guardian_.

"We have a kind of what we call epistemic authority here: People
listen to what we are saying, as scientists, and it becomes a way of
showing how serious the situation is, that we see ourselves forced to
go to these lengths," the University of Bristol lecturer added.

"Many already accept a role for scientists in advocacy," the paper
states, noting that around two-fifths of Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) authors have signed petitions or letters
demanding action, and a quarter of them have joined protests.

The article asserts that "to press for more meaningful efforts, and to
push back against the negligence and bad faith tactics that frustrate
this, a legitimate next step for scientists is to participate in
peaceful civil disobedience."

"We argue that this is justified on the basis that it is effective as
a strategy for change, it strongly communicates the urgency of the
climate crisis, is a reasonable and ethical activity for scientists to
undertake, and is revealing of the barriers to climate action," the
authors wrote.

The scientists referenced the historic effectiveness of civil
disobedience, pointing out that "the IPCC concludes with 'high
confidence' that collective action connected to social movements has
played a substantial role in pressuring governments to create new laws
and policy."

The two-page call to action even cites one of the youth climate
movement's top leaders:

Civil disobedience by scientists has the potential to cut through the
myriad complexities and confusion surrounding the climate crisis in a
way that less visible and dispassionate evidence provision does not,
sending a clear signal that scientists believe strongly in the
evidence and its implications. When those with expertise and knowledge
are willing to convey their concerns in a more uncompromising manner
than through papers and presentations, this affords them particular
effectiveness as a communicative act. This is the insight of Greta
Thunberg when she calls on us to "act as you would in a crisis."

The paper makes a case that civil disobedience by scientists is
justified because previous avenues for pushing policymakers to act
more boldly—including phasing out fossil fuels—have failed and the
climate emergency is having and will continue to have such sweeping
negative impacts.

"For decades, scientists have tried to sound the alarm through other
means," the article notes, "but years of delay and obfuscation by
decision-makers mean that severe consequences are already unfolding
around the world, with little time remaining to avoid even more
far-reaching and long-lasting harm."

"The climate crisis is epitomized by destructive impacts on large
numbers of people; it is pervaded by injustice, and exacerbated
through obstruction by powerful institutions, including the conditions
set by legislators," the document stresses.

Responding to the counterargument that scientists participating in
civil disobedience "risks undermining the integrity of science," the
authors wrote that the separation of science and politics is "based on
historical precedent" and "we need to ask how well these inherited
norms are serving us in a time of existential environmental crisis."

They declared that "the widespread notion that sober presentation of
evidence by an 'honest broker' to those with power will accomplish the
best interests of populations is itself not a neutral perspective on
the world; it is instead conveniently unthreatening to the status quo
and often rather naive."

The scientists also acknowledged that "the personal risks associated
with civil disobedience vary dramatically with people's
circumstances," and "there are many frontline activists who have lost
their lives protesting and resisting in defense of people and planet."

"To be able to engage in disruptive protest in relative safety is a
privilege held by citizens living in comparatively liberal societies,"
they wrote. "For those in such a fortunate position, the opportunity
exists to press for action, while helping to shape the nature of
protest activity and reducing the barriers to participation by
others."

The article—which follows a global mobilization
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of scientists pushing for climate action in April, including through
acts of civil disobedience
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others in the scientific community.

"This paper is absolutely great," said
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Racimo of the GLOBE Institute at Denmark's University of Copenhagen.
"Plus, unlike other papers, it appears to have the uncanny ability to
print itself and find its way into various faculty lounges of my
university."

Sebastian Berger, an assistant professor of sustainable development at
the University of Bern in Switzerland, similarly pledged
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spread the article, tweeting, "Fresh [off] the press and straight into
my undergraduate syllabus."

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel
free to republish and share widely.

* Climate Crisis; Scientists and Civil Disobedience;
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