This book investigates the psycho-social phenomenon which is society's failure to respond to
climate change. It analyses the non-rational dimensions of our collective paralysis in the face
of worsening climate change and environmental destruction exploring the emotional ethical
social organizational and cultural dynamics to blame for this global lack of action. The book
features eleven research projects from four different countries and is divided in two parts
the first highlighting novel methodologies the second presenting new findings. Contributors to
the first part show how a 'deep listening' approach to research can reveal the anxieties
tensions contradictions frames and narratives that contribute to people's experiences and
the many ways climate change and other environmental risks are imagined through metaphor
imagery and dreams. Using detailed interview extracts drawn from politicians scientists and
activists as well as ordinary people thesecond part of the book examines the many different
ways in which we both avoid and square up to this gathering disaster and the many faces of
alarm outrage denial and indifference this involves.
