Shame as a Catalyst: Transforming Inaction into Climate Action

Can shaming help mitigate the climate crisis? 

As the climate crisis has worsened, experts have put forth numerous solutions to curb greenhouse gas emissions and stop rising temperatures. Could shaming be one of them?

Recently, celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Taylor Swift and Drake have been getting flack on social media for how often they fly their private jets. But criticism of these individuals for their jet use is not enough.

Climate scientists have long contended that highlighting individual actions, rather than those of wider industries that contribute to the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions, is not the way to effectively mitigate climate change.

However, collective action across large scales can make a difference

Because the issues surrounding climate change are so complex, especially the doom and gloom that accompanies an uncertain future, people tend to gravitate toward individual actions rather than the necessary systemic change.

There's a difference between shaming, leading by example and advocacy.

One of the best ideas is featured in “Fighting Climate Change through Shaming” by Sharon Yadin (on the webpage). She insists because of insufficient climate law and regulation worldwide,  we need a framework for shaming corporations and companies via rankings, ratings, labeling, company reporting, lists, online databases, and other forms of information-sharing regarding corporate climate performance and compliance.

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