How to talk of Climate Change post 2020

In 2019, I resolved to write about climate change. I read a lot about climatic processes and modern climate change as context for my paleoclimatic research. My 2019 New Year resolution was to use my reading to spread awareness about what seems like a key issue for many generations.

As I refresh my resolution in 2021, I want to look back at the last two years and note some key lessons I learnt in climate communication. There are several excellent articles and courses out there which teach and discuss this subject. This post is tailored to Indian audiences (and arguably, Indian audiences of similar socio-economic backgrounds as mine). And yet, I'm confident that this represents a vast enough group for this post to be of some utility.

I know of many people who are aware of climate change and also aware of the vast lack of awareness about it. Their jobs or educational backgrounds may not be associated with climate change, but they read about it and sometimes, talk about it with others. This post is for you. Climate scientists all over the world are in dire need of, and ever grateful for, public support.

How to talk of climate change post 2020

Positivity

One recurring theme of 2020 was - No, I can't care about climate change right now! It isn't that people didn't care, but that they genuinely couldn't. 2020 was exhausting. And just because it's 2021, doesn't mean it will be a breeze. In fact, it was never a breeze, was it?

A lot of people don't like to read about climate change, or even get into the discussion at all, because they have so much going on already. There could be financial stress, medical stress, professional stress, personal stress, emotional stress – you get the gist.

We attempt to spread awareness out of concern, and this concern must be well-rounded. Climate awareness cannot come at a cost of mental health (for others and for us). Pick your moments, discuss the problem but do highlight the solutions that exist and the individual efforts they require. Empowering people with information and agency is the way forward.

Less is more

Perhaps this is my problem only, but I find I always have a lot more to talk about than the other cares to listen! One part of this is of course, mental exhaustion (previous point). The other part is the fundamental question – what interests people? For example, most Indians do not care as much for glacial melt as for heatwaves, erratic monsoons and farmer distress. Limit the scope to what is important, relevant and interesting; increase the signal-to-noise ratio.

This is easier with friends and family – you know what interests them. In this regard, the impact of simple, meaningful conversations cannot be overstated. Another perspective is that keeping people interested requires not overwhelming them midway through the conversation.

Illustration: Danielle Coke

Facts and feelings

I started my climate campaign as a champion of facts. I have now fine-tuned it with sentiment. Maya Angelou said, I've learnt that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Facts and feelings are the salt and pepper to a good climate conversation. Remember, we care less for the atmospheric CO₂ levels than the effects they have on people and communities.

Climate change brings physiological, agricultural and economic distress. Everyone suffers from rising temperatures, rising prices and rising number of "natural" disasters. I like to highlight these points frequently because it (a) makes the problem more personal and (b) nudges people to think towards their vulnerability and preparedness.

Misinformation

Did you notice the misinformation campaign all through 2020? Sometimes subtle, sometimes stark, misinformation arises for several reasons. They range from "malicious" – like actively misleading people to make financial or electoral profits, to "benign" – like wanting to believe in miracle cures especially when scientific understanding does not exist.

Misinformation campaigns have been around for a while now, and they're here to stay. Thwarting them requires patience, facts and simple explanations. I'm often told that armchair activism doesn't help anything (and it certainly achieves little more than a fraction of "real work"). But if you're considering giving up on simple discussions, take a look through your family WhatsApp groups and remember what those forwards have achieved. Yes, social media has a non-zero impact.

The lockdown example

I leave you with one silver lining that 2020 brought for all of us worried about climate change: undeniable evidence for the need for structural changes. For a brief period, the whole world seemed to be at a standstill. We all stopped flying, commuting or (to some extent) even producing. Atmospheric CO₂ levels didn't plummet, carbon emissions dropped only slightly. An economic pause was unimaginable, at least out of climate motivation, but the pause did occur and it brought irrefutable proof that we need large-scale changes if we are to even come close to "solving" the climate crisis. Understand this well, use it well. It's fodder for many climate conversations to come. 

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Happy new year, folks. I hope this year brings peace, growth and much required change. 😊

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