That I see as the biggest problem with any environmentalist movement. It's all about saving the polar bears and snow leopards. Cute as they may be, no one gives a damn.

Now they want to limit the warming to 1.5°C to limit the flooding of Pacific islands. Again, they are taking it from a completely wrong angle.

Why? Because both causes assume that they can persuade the target audience to care about anything other than themselves. To take action, inconvenience themselves, change their lifestyle, eat less meat, walk instead of driving, agree to pay more tax, more for fuel and energy, and all of that for what? The polar bears? Some Polynesians? Who gives a damn?

A completely wrong angle is what I say. The three golden rules for influencing Joe Public are:
1) Joe Public is selfish
2) Joe Public is lazy
3) Joe Public is stupid

If you want to persuade Joe Public, do not talk to him how climate change is going to affect the polar bear. Tell him how it is going to affect him. In clear terms, shamelessly taking advantage of his selfishness, laziness, stupidity and of course xenophobia and paranoia.

Climate change? It means expanding deserts. It means heavier monsoons. It means flooded coastal areas. What do those things mean? It means a lot of displaced people. It means regional conflicts that may easily escalate globally. It means refugees. Where will they all go? Show Mrs Jones that some of them may end coming to knock on her door. Mrs Jones is xenophobic. She will not like it. She may even start walking half a block to the shops instead of driving there, just to keep those foreigners away.