THE CONVERSATION — Climate change is widely recognized by the scientific community as “.”
However, climate change isn’t just about greenhouse gas emissions. At its core, it is both a symptom and a cause for the centuries-long trend in declining social connection and community cohesion.
A modern atomized life
Consider this: If was summarized in 100 minutes, modern life would only take shape in the last 30 or so seconds.
In these last 30 seconds, human beings began , , and began harnessing . These novelties and .
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Prior to the modern age, , surrounded by extended family, from home. These traditional lifestyles are increasingly rare .Across the globe, people and are forced to abandon traditional lifestyles. . Despite efforts to resist declining social connection, we increasingly . As a result, rates of loneliness in nearly every global region and .
Consequences for our planet
The consequences of modern life don’t end with . Indeed, in the same fraction of time that we revolutionized human social life, we have also dramatically increased our demand on the world around us — , releasing and imposing vast infrastructure upon this planet and its non-human inhabitants. Moreover, . These atomized lifestyle changes have been costly to the environment.
In addition to the more environmentally intensive lifestyles we now lead, our increasingly individualistic culture has emerged as a . Studies suggest that tribalism and polarization are stifling our ability .
A vicious feedback cycle
Perhaps of greatest concern, it is apparent that there is a vicious feedback cycle between climate change and poor social cohesion. In fact, there is a growing body of research showing that climate change will not just be worsened by our social disconnectedness, but will itself contribute to greater disconnection. Climate change and our modern social ills are linked.
As exemplified by recent , . Such conflicts may arise from disagreements about and this potential is increased by .
Couples worried about the future may therefore experience conflicts over . For other couples, climate change may , and threaten . Indeed, there is compelling evidence that nine months later, which suggests that changes in the climate could impact intimacy between partners. Climate change is a wedge issue that has the potential to drive us further and further apart.
While the , living and ageing without children can have its own difficulties – including . The feedback cycle goes both directions.
Moreover, at the population level, these impacts are compounded. Extreme weather effects can increase the rate of interpersonal violence. Declining birth rates lead to considerable economic impact. And mass migration creates cultural challenges such as those driving the re-emergence of extreme-right parties in Europe.
The way out
Put simply, human life has changed at a breakneck pace and our .
As , its time we recognize that all things are interconnected. If we don’t act, climate change will worsen our social bonds, which will only reduce our capacity to respond to the environmental threats that lie ahead. The climate will worsen and the cycle will continue.
However, there is a way out of this vicious feedback loop: we can reverse the centuries-long trend in disconnection by treating social and environmental health on par with physical and mental health.
Our own research suggests that . Other studies also show that the and climate change.
Of course, if the last few decades are any indication, we must acknowledge that social connection and cohesion is difficult to achieve. If modern life were conducive to healthy social lives, we would not be where we are today.
This is exactly why we need renewed public and philanthropic investments in social cohesion and community life. For example, provide a leading example for how relying on and strengthening community . We must learn from communities leading the way across the globe if we are to survive and thrive in the midst of environmental change. Indeed, climate change requires us to come together.
Authors:
is an assistant professor in Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University. George Card has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Health Research British Columbia, Canadian Red Cross, Public Health Agency of Canada, Government of British Columbia and Canadian Institutes for Health Research.
is an adjunct professor and and Post Doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Health Sciences. Closson receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship program.
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