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You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet: A Death-Defying Look at the Future of the Climate Debate

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Grounding Global Climate Change

Abstract

The article looks at the ongoing debate on climate change against the background of established modes of environmental discourse. It argues that the climate discourse diverges notably from established lines of discussion in that it inspires an enthusiastic community of scientists, politicians and activists while offering no perspective for success. It uses Luhmannian systems theory to argue that the climate community shows symptoms of autopoiesis, resulting in a notable inability to communicate with the rest of society. It concludes with an agenda for the environmental humanities.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations Environment Programme, Conference of the Parties, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation.

  2. 2.

    For English-language introductions to Luhmannian systems theory, see Moeller 2006; Brunczel 2010.

References

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Correspondence to Frank Uekötter .

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Uekötter, F. (2015). You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet: A Death-Defying Look at the Future of the Climate Debate. In: Greschke, H., Tischler, J. (eds) Grounding Global Climate Change. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9322-3_10

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