Why Climate Change Has Been Ignored: A Chinese Perspective

This article provides readers with observations and analysis from the perspective of two Chinese scholars to find out why such an existential crisis for humanity as climate change could be deliberately ignored. Starting with reflections of the authors’ personal reaction to Greta Thunberg, the article turns to a take a bigger picture of people’s responses. Therefore, discussions of the Greta Thunberg phenomenon in major Chinese social media are presented to seek out how people with different backgrounds in China reacted towards Greta’s behavior. Following that, it explores the influential factors that explain why the public reacts so slowly and cautiously to the threat of climate change, and why there are so many negative reactions. It is hoped that the reflections can counterbalance the tendency of social scientists to remain aloof and mute.