Not personal enough: Why climate change is not yet a top priority

(Reuters, 7 Oct 2020) In wealthy countries, relatively few people feel affected by climate threats - but that won't last, climate security experts say.

Spurring ambitious-enough action to stem climate change will require persuading most people that its impacts - from deadlier weather to surging migration - are a direct and imminent threat to themselves, according to a British defence official.

Global warming "is not inconvenient if you're not affected by it at all", said Richard Nugee, head of climate change and sustainability strategy at the Ministry of Defence, during an online event run by London-based think-tank Chatham House this week.

The lack of a sense of personal threat is one reason why "climate change always seems to be number two" on Britain's list of public concerns, behind other shifting priorities like Brexit - Britain's departure from Europe - and COVID-19, he said.

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Reuters, 7 Oct 2020: Not personal enough: Why climate change is not yet a top priority