Using all Tools in the Toolbox to Advance Tough Conversations at the Toughest of Times
More than 25 years ago, when I started working on climate communication, you could fit those of us dedicated to the pursuit in a single conference room. Now, the climate communication field is exploding with many, many actors operating across a range of sectors. At least, if considering the number of events at New York Climate Week at the end of September.
From the science of climate communication and how to advocate for climate policy to amplifying climate messages through the arts, entertainment and Extended Reality; it was exciting to see the creativity at play and the reach of some initiatives being highlighted in New York. Take season seven of Love is Blind which featured Taylor, an energy policy specialist working for RMI, who was searching for someone who aligned with her values around climate change. This type of programming opens new conversations and sets new social norms.
The expansion of the field is also creating space for people to emotionally process the impact of climate change. One effort that caught my eye was DearTomorrow.org which invites people to write a letter to someone they love living in 2050. The thousands of letters collected are shared with others via installations, videos and the project website. The letters I read were realistic yet hope filled. They gave you a chance to imagine into the future of what’s possible, not just broken.
Scaling through partnerships was another theme that resonated. For example, it was great to hear the announcement regarding the new collaboration between Protect Our Winters and 11th Hour Racing. These two groups are bringing together the voices of professional snow, mountain and sea athletes in a shared called to action.
All of these tools are needed to advance action, particularly given the common barriers everyone working in climate communication is facing. Collaboration is key and operating as an ecosystem of actors with greater knowledge sharing and coordination is something climate communicators also want.
This was evident at the The Toughest of Conversations and the Toughest of Times event Climate Access hosted in partnership with the Climate Advocacy Lab and Re.Climate. This gathering brought together leaders from the Yale Climate Communication Center, Climate Central, The Years Project, GSCC, Potential Energy, Fossil Free Media and many other climate communication organizations to discuss the current context. Key take-aways emerged in terms of how to respond and the role of collaboration in that.
First, organizations should be amplifying common messages. Those opposing climate action, such as fossil fuel proponents, are incredibly uniform when it comes to disseminating narratives. Climate action proponents are unlikely to all use the exact same words, however, increased discipline when it comes to amplifying common evidence based themes is something to strive for.
Second, go local. With climate action stalling out at the federal level in both the US and Canada, many organizations are shifting their attention to sub-national outreach initiatives. There is a need for guidance on how best to do this, particularly with a mind to ensuring inclusive, equitable and non-extractive practices are adopted. Greater support is also needed for local government leaders to continue climate outreach efforts given budgets being slashed irregardless of the ever increasing impacts of climate change.
Third, connectivity and collaboration. Connecting regularly as a community of climate communicators is critical if we are to efficiently and impactfully respond to the challenges of the current context. Organizations like Climate Access, the Climate Advocacy Lab and Re.Climate can drive this forward given the groups and networks they already convene.
Fourth, personal resilience. It has never been easy to work on climate change and now it feels even more daunting. Creating space for and dedicating resources to help climate leaders address emotional impacts and generate strength and hope is key. We’re excited our new fiscal project, Embodied Ecosystem, is focused on doing just that.
Fifth and finally, doing all of the above will require increased climate philanthropy investments. Climate communication leaders called for funding that fosters collaboration and allows risk taking and learning from what doesn’t work, as much as what does.
As the field grows, so too must the connective tissue between climate communication service providers, researchers and practitioners. No one leader or organization can go it alone when it comes to overcoming polarization, rising populism, mis and disinformation and decline in support for climate action despite ongoing concern about extreme weather. Now is the time to break down silos by increasing information and intelligence sharing across groups, collectively problem solving and connecting efforts together where possible such as co-investing in research and training aimed at addressing pervasive barriers.
