21. Is climate change personally affecting you?

Many think that the risks of climate change (and therefore the benefits of reducing them) as both fairly uncertain and as being mostly in the future and geographically distant. Concern about the negative effects of climate change - including extreme weather events like droughts or floods - is low on average, partly because these events tend to be underestimated in decisions based on personal experience, unless they have recently occurred, in which case they are largely overestimated.

These are all psychological factors that lead to people discounting the risks of climate change and that prevent people from taking action against them.

Scorching heatwaves in Canada, deadly landslides in Japan, Australia's massive wildfires last year - let's not forget the recent flooding (and draught!) we've had right here in South Africa.

Still not convinced that climate change is personally effecting you? Check out this short TedxTeen clip: "Why I don't care about 'Climate Change'" by David Saddington: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vnzKPq390Q