Talking climate change: A how-to guide
As the realities of climate breakdown hit home in the UK, it is now more important than ever to ask ‘How can we start talking about this more and in a more constructive way, building bridges not divides?’
2022 has confronted us with the harsh realities of climate breakdown here in the UK. From severe storm surges to the record-breaking 40C heatwave, these extreme weather events have tested the country’s limits. According to weather predictions by the Met Office for 2050, this year’s 40C summers and destructive floods will be nothing unusual but the norm.
Even as the predictions of a hothouse Britain unfold before our very eyes, many of us still avoid discussing the increasingly hot, sweaty and volatile elephant in the room… the climate crisis.
The power of conversations
It’s easy to underestimate the seemingly passive power held by conversing with another human. Yet conversations form the bedrock of social change, creating meaningful connections and acting as vehicles of expression.
Historically, the original coffee houses during the 17th and 18th centuries served as democratic places for citizens to share ideas and debate political and social concerns. Today, any political, social and climate-related conversation could occur online, at home, in the workplace or, indeed, in the local coffee shop. For example, conversations and debates on Twitter provided an instrumental platform for women in Saudi Arabia to protest their rights, in particular the female driving ban. A study on the effect of such Twitter discussions found the ability to openly negotiate issues put pressure on institutions in unprecedented ways.
Meaningful conversations plant the seeds of social change. What starts with a word can translate into a collective ambition and action. This shared ambition can bring the climate crisis to the fore of political agendas. Dually, momentum builds alongside more climate conversations, fuelling awareness and the ability to create action.
History shows us that all social change begins with a conversations and awareness raising. It is crucial that any conversation on a difficult topic lets all voices be heard, and that it is about listening as much as explaining.
Tackling Climate Silence
Outside of the ‘green bubble’ of environmentally-focused individuals, Climate Silence is pervasive in the average UK home. Climate silence arises as people don’t enjoy talking about the doom and gloom of the climate crisis, and so avoid climate-related conversations. Paradoxically, people are also increasingly concerned about the crisis; Ipsos polls from 2019 showed 85% of Britons were concerned about climate change, with 52% very concerned.
The climate crisis’ intrinsically complex and global nature renders it a daunting topic to discuss. However, our difficulty in talking about the climate crisis stems not just from its very nature, but also in how it’s discussed in terms of the language and narrative used. How can we adapt our language and narrative to create meaningful, inclusive and effective conversations that encourage social change?
Know Your Audience
Before considering the nuances of language and narrative, firstly consider your audience. Educational research suggests that when you know your audience, information can be tailored to suit their needs and motivations. With this knowledge, there are more commonalities than differences and divides.
The Circle of Trust
Firstly, initiating conversations with friends, relatives, and colleagues can be incredibly beneficial in sharing information. According to NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, people are more likely to accept negative or unwelcome information from people within their community or ‘circle of trust’.
Embrace Difference
Communication surrounding the climate crisis sometimes leads to debates regarding personal lifestyle choices or political opinions. An empathetic mindset is a crucial component to the most effective conversations. Placing oneself in the other person’s perspective, background, struggles and daily life can lead to more fruitful dialogue. With a sense of shared understanding, conversations may become more impactful. Instead of attempting to win an argument or convey a stark message, meaningful connections are formed through empathetic listening.
Read on to discover how language and narrative can impact climate crisis conversations.
Is the devil in the linguistic details?
When it comes to the ‘best’ language to use when speaking about the climate crisis, there are mixed views in both media and research.
Undoubtedly, the language has evolved over time to reflect the seriousness of climate breakdown. From global warming to climate change, to the now widely used climate emergency or climate crisis. A study carried out by the Oxford English Dictionary into the origins of the words used to talk about the climate crisis found that more urgent words are increasingly being employed. Between 2018 and 2020, the use of “climate crisis” increased nearly 20-fold and “climate emergency” 76-fold over the same period.
This could be partly due to the language used in the IPCC’s reports, which is growing more emphatic and certain, with phrases like ‘unequivocal’. Moreover, 2,268 jurisdictions in 39 countries declared a ‘climate emergency’, whilst media outlets such as The Guardian have made it a matter of editorial policy to use more strongly worded vocabulary to communicate the urgency of the crisis.
However, research by Feldman and Hart suggests that more urgent terminology has shown no influence on public engagement, news perceptions nor political ideologies. The 2021 study published in Climate Change also found one instance where news organisations using the term climate emergency were perceived as sounding ‘alarmist’ and less trustworthy. This may be due to the climate crisis’ remote and intangible nature to many people. Alternatively, the term and concept ‘climate justice’ has evolved from the climate movement. Climate justice focuses on solidarity, connections and ongoing climate efforts over emergency framing.
Whatever language you decide, the climate lexicon used may be impacted by one’s audience. With that in mind, environmental journalist George Monbiot and Ralph Steadman have offered some alternative terms that may shift perceptions during conversations.
Useful alternatives to add to our climate lexicon. Read more on this here.
Yet most important of all is the narrative and context within which we discuss the climate crisis.
Change the Narrative to Reframe the Crisis
There’s a phrase in journalism, ‘What bleeds leads’ – this may be good clickbait, but it doesn’t inspire conversations, social change or action.
In fact, the aforementioned study by Feldman and Hart found that news about disastrous climate impacts increased fear and decreased hope compared to news about climate actions. It would seem that information resonates more with audiences when it is constructive. This includes narratives that emphasise actions and solutions, instead of overwhelming statistics with no outlet. Constructive conversations are more likely to build momentum and help people feel empowered to enact positive change.
Practical Pointers
The Talking Climate Handbook by Climate Outreach has provided an evidence-based, practical guide to facilitate climate change conversations. The handbook forms part of a citizen science project with over 550 individuals from over 50 countries.
The backbone of the advice revolves around the mnemonic REAL TALK. This approach is especially useful for inter-generational conversations and people less aware of environmental issues.
Respect your conversational partner and find common ground
Enjoy the conversation
Ask questions
Listen, and show you’ve heard
Tell your story
Action makes it easier (but doesn’t fix it)
Learn from the conversation
Keep going and keep connected
Plus, it’s always good to bear in mind the context of the conversation, is it formal or informal, a casual exchange or a deeper dialogue? Consider if this is an appropriate time for the conversation, it often helps if both parties are engaged and in positive moods, as with any complex or difficult conversation.
Finally, it’s beneficial for conversations to steer clear of virtue signalling and lifestyle prescribing – as this may irk recipients and detracts from the focus of listening. It also twists the conversation away from the climate crisis and perhaps carries the assumption that the listener cannot take their own course of action or make their own decisions.
Think about whether the conversation is formal or informal and, as with any difficult conversation, it’s best when everyone involved is feeling relaxed, rested, comfortable, open, and positive.
Positive Inspiration
If you’d like to bring a few positive solutions to the table – the Climate of Change podcast sheds light on inspiring and ingenious climate mitigation efforts. From London gardening in train stations to clean energy lamps in the Philippines, hosts Cate Blanchett and Danny Kennedy mix up the gloomy tune with a more optimistic approach. Other constructive climate-related resources that could help strike up conversations include the Carbon Brief website and the Climate Cast newsletter from Natural Climate Solutions.
If you want to feel inspired about what you as an individual can do to make a positive difference, check out our blog on just this here.
Bringing Climate Change Closer to Home
It may not always appear to be, but the climate crisis is very much here, real and unavoidably on our doorsteps. Yet conversations are powerful tools in catalysing the social change we need to adapt. During these conversations, we can avoid eco-anxiety and feelings of hopelessness by rejecting the typical doomsday narrative. Instead, an empathetic ear goes a long way in bridging differences, forming connections and talking solutions. Sharing outlets for opportunities and actions helps spread inspiration and innovation in place of panic. Through conversations, we can accept the reality of our changing planet and use words to plant the seeds of action. Only with such positive momentum can we continue to weave the climate crisis into political agendas and accelerate change.
Whereas doomsday dialogue can lead to panic and emotional shutdowns, constructive dialogue leads to creativity and to openness. Ultimately, our ability to talk on these issues is crucial if we are to create a better world.
By Emma Tegg - Blog writer and Conservation Communicator