Why do we need to talk about the climate?

Covid-19 has shown that we are able to quickly react when our lives are in danger: We highly value human life. With Covid-19, we can see the immediate global impact. Our current actions have an impact on the Earth’s climate system and our future lives. In some regions of Earth, the consequences are drastic while in others the impacts of climate change are not yet apparent. Although already in a climate crisis, it is hard to imagine what future life will be like if we continue as we do. An ambitious climate policy requires a deeply engaged public that supports initiatives that will have an impact on their own behaviour and their lifestyle. Otherwise, if this social mandate is not given and the current governments implement ambitious climate policies, public unrest could be a result and the next government could easily take measures back. So, the public needs to get more engaged but the question is how we can achieve this?

For decades, there has been scientific consensus and we need climate science to assess the state of the Earth’s climate system and other sciences to assess its impact on us. But we do not need more knowledge to “convince” the public to act. We need to reach everyone and get the support by all sectors and all classes. Not everyone is reached through dry facts and scientific language. One way to reach the people you meet every day is by talking about climate change. Here, it is relevant to make sure you know how to successfully talk about this difficult topic. What I mean by “conversations about the climate” is bringing this topic to a more personal level. With the current crisis on top, we need more action, people need to be reminded that climate change needs at least the same attention and political will as Covid-19.

Role of stories and narratives

When communicating about climate change with friends, family or strangers, stories play a pivotal role. By asking more general, open questions like, “What is your experience with climate change?” your conversation partner gets the chance to use their own narrative. This way, you can begin to understand how your dialogue partner perceives climate change and gives you hints on how you can then reply to them.

Psychology

Today, finding solutions often requires interdisciplinary approaches. When we talk about climate change, there is no difference. These communication practices do not just build upon communication research, but research in social sciences and psychology. To be a better communicator, it is necessary to understand some findings of psychosocial research. First and foremost, when someone says something wrong, we sometimes tend to correct them; we want to right a wrong. However, by doing so, we may create a conflict, causing the other person to react defensively. It is not a good way to have a conversation.

Climate change is still a contested topic. Is it because of the way people raise the issue or because it is so difficult to grasp? What do you think is the issue?

Let’s start. Have you talked to a friend, relative, colleague or stranger about climate change before? Do they know your opinion? You can raise the issue by sharing your thoughts and your personal story—why you are personally engaged in climate action or effected by climate change. Are you trying to convince local politicians to implement more ambitious climate change policies because you are afraid of your children’s future? Or, do you want to decarbonize your consumption patterns to become a role model and protect the beauty of nature left to us by our forefathers? Many people have an individual story, but these remain unshared unless you speak out.

Discussing climate change can have surprising effects. You might be surprised that your neighbor is aware of the issue but does not know where to start a personal transformation process such as reducing their carbon footprint. You could team up to support each other. On the other hand, you might provoke a completely different result. Your grandfather or sister is close to you, but it turns out they do not want to change anything. What do you do? Instead of pointing fingers and blaming them, you could first listen. What do they have to say? Let them speak and maybe you can still find some common ground. Even if you do not understand or support their opinion, it is important to remain respectful, and listen; do not try to correct them.

More practical tips to start with. If you are interested in leading conversations about climate change, here are some tips for how to spark a friendly conversation. To avoid ambushing anyone, you can simply ask if your friend is willing to talk about climate change. If the answer is positive, consider starting with an open question that makes clear you are interested in your friend’s story. You want to understand your friend, so just listen and make sure not to interrupt. You will probably learn something new about your friend by just listening.

Climate Outreach, is a British non-profit organization researching better ways of communicating climate change. They have released a handbook on how to talk about climate change. The guide is a result of a citizen science project called #TalkingClimate. For one month, seven-hundred participants from all over the world, including myself, led climate change conversations and filled out a survey about their experiences. Have a look for more guidance and become an activist. Let’s start talking about climate change.

Sources, further reading and videos:

Books:

Adam Corner, Jamie Clarke: Talking Climate: From Research to Practice in Public Engagement

George Marshall: Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change

Talks:

Ted Talk by George Marshall: I have learnt the most about climate change from those who deny it.

Ted Talk by Renée Lertzman: How to turn climate anxiety into action.

The post Do you want to talk about the climate? appeared first on Global Change Ecology.

Students of Global Change Ecology have a reputation for being creatively engaged citizens and Steffen Schwardmann is no exception. Having just completed his second semester at the University of Bayreuth, he has also launched a podcast, Stories of Climate Change Hope. I invited Steffen to an interview to better understand where he’s coming from with the podcast and where he hopes to go with it.

When did you first become interested in climate change?

Well, the very first time I heard about climate change was during the geography lessons in high school but did not pay so much attention to it then. When I was pursuing a B.A in Political Science in 2015, I became much more interested. At that time, I attended a seminar on climate policy which was held at a similar time as COP 21 in Paris. However, at the time, it was all too abstract to be honest. It is interesting how one can learn about climate policy without knowing too much about the Earth’s climate system itself. This has changed since I began studying Global Change Ecology at the University of Bayreuth. Here, I spend a lot of time on this issue and related topics. It has already helped me a lot to expand my knowledge and satisfy my curiosity.

What inspired you to become more engaged?

There are the numerous young people who are concerned about our future, who are brave and have inspired me. I am amazed to see these young people who do not mind if others criticize them or maybe they mind but go ahead anyway. And I am like, “Hell yeah, I need to do more!” We shouldn’t underestimate young people. And then a few books influenced me that I’d recommend. The first is Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change by George Marshall, founder of Climate Outreach, a British organization using social science methods to find better ways to communicate climate change. Marshall argues that when communicating climate change, we need to focus on our common values and the social environment. We do not see the world from the same frame, right? One key insight for me is how important it is to approach those circles I am usually not in contact with. This is something general: You learn more from the people you do not understand than those you meet every day. Two other books that inspired me a lot are Active Hope – How to Face the Mess We’re in without Going Crazy by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone, and Climate: A New Story by Charles Eisenstein.

Do you consider yourself a climate activist?

This is a very good question. I have asked this myself a couple of times. In the past, I always regarded activists as engaged people who would go out on the streets and voice their concerns by protesting or through mass demonstration. However, I have realized that one can be an activist just by staying indoors and using social media, maintaining a blog or being a podcast host to voice their concern. So, this is especially interesting for the more introverted among us —we can all be activists. I guess with the podcast I have found something dear I like to do. Someone else might find something different. Being out in the open and voicing your opinion can create anxiety. In May, when I published the first episode, I was very nervous and asked myself “Is it good enough? Will people like it?” One must start at some point. As a podcast host I accepted that with every episode I will improve. So, yes, I consider myself an activist.

What were you hoping to add to the many conversations about climate change already in place?

There are a lot of science-based podcasts and podcasts with a topical focus on solutions to our crisis. But what comes short? When the news of a grim future is spread, we need to be aware that this can create anxiety and even depression for some people. So, with my podcast, I do not just want to spread hope, but also aim at getting people engaged with climate change. Engagement can help to get a different perspective and action helps through struggle. And that is essentially why I invite working people, engaged people, concerned people to talk about their personal story of commitment to solving this issue. To me personally, it is of the utmost importance to spread diverse narratives. There are so many different perspectives and reasons to become more engaged. To underline this diversity, I need to invite more people from groups and organizations that can share a new point of view, beyond green and ecological framing. One podcast that inspired me is called Climate Crisis Conversation – Catastrophe or Transformation hosted by Verity Sharp for the Climate Psychology Alliance.

What, if any, is/was the learning curve in recording and publishing your own podcast?

In the beginning, I only had some knowledge of using a microphone from my high school days in a rock band. Besides that, I did not have much experience. This is what makes podcasting so great. It is very easy to start and get into it. You find all kinds of tutorials, reviews, and manuals online. In comparison to three months ago, I feel much more confident now.

Who would you like to host on your show and why?

Oh, there are a few potential guests I’d like to invite, e.g. a concerned mom, a concerned dad, a business owner, a start-up owner, someone working in public administration, an electrician, a mechanic, an economist, a farmer…. I’d love to invite more people whose voices aren’t heard in the public so strongly. If you know someone who’d like to talk about climate change, hope, anxiety, or something related, they can get in touch.

What is your goal in having the podcast? What do you wish to accomplish?

I feel the podcast needs more followers to have a bigger impact. My goal is to spread a little bit of hope every other week, making people more resilient, underlining that everyone can become more engaged. You do not need to call yourself an activist to be engaged; even talking to your friends and family about climate change is something worthwhile. My personal goal is to get more familiar with podcasting, find like-minded people, work on my own anxiety by having all those inspiring guests, and create something beautiful, something I can be proud of.

What is your long-term vision for the podcast?

My long term vision? Hm…. Until December I’m figuring this whole podcasting thing out. Then, next year, I want to try to have let’s say a more structural approach. What do I mean by that? One would be to broaden the scope, not just cover the topic of talking about climate change, but include biodiversity, land cover change among others. Second, have one topical focus every quarter, e.g. drought and farming or climate justice. Third, let the podcast be more interactive, e.g. letting listeners join the show, hosting live shows, making the podcast more exciting by adding other elements like sound effects or more music.

What is one insight, point, or consideration, about climate change communication that you would shout from the rooftops so everyone could hear?

Okay, so imagine me shouting from the rooftops: Listen! Create a dialogue! You do not have to understand everything, every opinion, every point of view! Decrease polarization! Overall, stay respectful!

You can find Steffen’s podcast Stories of Climate Change Hope HERE as well as on Podbean, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. If you would like to contact Steffen, he welcomes you to do so via email at stories.climatehope[at]gmail.com.

The post Stories of Climate Change Hope, a Podcast appeared first on Global Change Ecology.