Populist Leadership and Climate Crisis

Climate crisis is a looming threat that could potentially lead to Armageddon. Science does emphasize the anthropogenic factors that cause this crisis. It also clamors for immediate action in order to mitigate the ill effects of climate change. Science, being a subjective enterprise as argued by Thomas Kuhn, is manipulated by certain climate skeptics in a way that the climate ambitious policies and funding initiatives are stalled. This manifests as motivated rejection of scientific evidence pointing to anthropogenic factors and climate change itself with counterclaims. Unfortunately, these climate skeptics are supported by the rising populism. Ultra-right-wing thoughts, nationalistic fervor, and economic interests influence the emergence of populist leaders who deny climate crisis and focus on parochial values, the recent pullout from the Paris Agreement by the previous Trump administration being a case in point. This entry explores the factors that facilitate the rise of such populist leaders, highlights the impact of such leadership on the climate crisis, and also recommends the way forward for the human race to win over the Armageddon.