Empowering Climate Action: Three Steps to Effective Communication

Communicating on climate change is about educating and mobilizing audiences to take action to confront the climate crisis. Everyone can play a part by raising their voice, sharing solutions, and advocating for change – shaped by different experiences, cultural contexts, and underlying values.

If you are creating a communications product – such as a video, a podcast, a written article, or a graphic on climate change – keep in mind the following tips to make it a valuable, effective, and reliable piece of content.

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1.  Use authoritative scientific information

WHY?

Misinformation and disinformation are widespread on the issue of climate change – and they are major obstacles towards progress in tackling the climate crisis. Deceptive or misleading content distorts the perception of climate science and solutions, creates confusion, and often leads to delays in action or even harmful action. “Rhetoric and misinformation on climate change and the deliberate undermining of science have contributed to misperceptions of the scientific consensus, uncertainty, disregarded risk and urgency, and dissent,” according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

HOW?

• Check your sources. When sharing facts and figures, make sure they come from a reliable source, which is science-based (consistent with the latest scientific consensus) and objective (not biased or influenced by financial or political incentives). Peer-reviewed articles (reviewed by experts in the same field prior to publication) generally provide the most reliable information. A uniquely authoritative source is the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, whose comprehensive assessments are written by hundreds of leading scientists, with contributions from thousands of experts, and endorsed by its 195 member countries.
   
• Stop misinformation. Things you post online can spread very fast. Pause before you share something. Find out who made it, what sources it is based on, who paid for it, and who might be profiting from it. If you detect misinformation among your followers, rebut it by using the ‘Fact, Myth, Fallacy’ model that can help convey your message in a way that will stick.
   
• Beware of greenwashing (presenting a company or product as environmentally friendly when they actually aren’t). Double-check what the company is really doing to reduce their carbon footprint and deliver on their climate promises, and only promote genuinely sustainable brands that meet certain minimum criteria. When taking on work that is financially rewarding, be careful to challenge the assignment to make sure it promotes sustainable behaviours.
   
• Use trusted messengers. Breaking down the science behind climate change is complex, but the right messengers can get the audience engaged. As an established content creator, you may already be a trusted messenger for your audience. If you bring in other messengers, consider respected scientists (whose articles refer to peer-reviewed scientific journals or studies conducted by reputable research institutions or universities), weather presenters, and medical doctors, all of which are widely trusted. Often the most impactful climate communications also come from “people like me” who are affected and care.

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2.  Convey the problem and the solutions

WHY?

Explaining the scale of the climate crisis is important, but it can seem overwhelming, leading people to lose interest and tune out. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges humankind has faced. It is daunting, but the fight against climate change is far from lost. The worst impacts can still be averted if we act now. A good way around disillusionment and “crisis fatigue” is to convey a hopeful message focused on the solutions, helping people feel empowered and motivated to engage.

HOW?

• Tell a story – make it real. Presenting data alone may numb the audience. Make it relatable, local, and personal. Individual stories can forge an emotive connection, get the audience to care, and make shared global challenges seem less daunting. You don’t even need to lead with the word ‘climate’ but start with a related issue that is important to your audience. Air pollution, for instance, which cities like Dar es Salaam are tackling by introducing soot-free buses. Or new job opportunities offered by clean energy projects, like in this story from India. Or power outages during hurricanes, which Puerto Rico is tackling by installing solar power.
   
• Empower people. Let people know that they have the power to effect change. Individual action and systemic change go hand in hand. Individuals can help drive change by shifting consumption patterns and demanding action by governments and corporations. Small steps by a large number of people can help persuade leaders to make the big changes we need. And the more people act now and speak up for change, the bigger the pressure on leaders to act.
   
• Link it to justice. Climate change is not just about science, it is also an issue of justice. The poor and marginalized are often hit the hardest by increasing climate hazards like floods, droughts, and storms. Those who contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions are too often affected the most. And financial commitments of support by wealthier countries have not been met. Solving the climate crisis also means addressing injustice and inequity, which can create opportunities for all.
   
• Avoid stereotypes. Poorer countries and underserved communities, including indigenous peoples who have protected the environment for generations, are often portrayed solely as victims of climate change, rather than positive agents of change. The same is often the case for women and girls. Make sure to highlight the voices, expertise, innovations, positive action, and solutions by people from all walks of life and communities from all parts of the world.

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3.  Mobilize action

WHY?

We need all hands on deck. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, and halving them by 2030, requires nothing less than a complete transformation of how we produce, consume, and move about. Surveys indicate that a majority of people around the world want their governments to take action and most citizens in advanced economies are willing to make changes in their own lives.

HOW?

• Convey urgency. Make it about now. Many misinformation narratives present climate action as something that is necessary, but only in the future. Make sure you let people know what needs to happen right now in order to solve the climate crisis, and that action can’t wait. Studies have also shown that explaining the human causes of climate change increases public support for urgent action.
   
• Focus on the opportunities. Get your audience excited about the prospects of a sustainable world. Addressing climate change will bring about an abundance of opportunities – green jobs, cleaner air, renewable energy, food security, livable coastal cities, and better health. Are there climate initiatives in your community that face resistance? Showcase their benefits to rally support. Reframing the issue to focus on the prospects of a better future can galvanize action.
   
• Make it relevant. Meet people where they are – and avoid technical jargon. Limiting global warming to 1.5°C, for example, can be hard for people to relate to. Frame the issue in a way that will resonate with your local audience, by linking it to shared values like family, nature, community, and religion for instance. Safety and stability – protecting what we have – were also found to be highly effective frames for creating a sense of urgency.
   
• Engage youth. The global youth climate movement has played a powerful role in driving action and holding leaders accountable. Featuring voices of youth will make your content more relatable to young people and get more youth involved in demanding change. But avoid presenting climate change as a problem only for future generations. It is hitting hard right now, and action is needed right now.

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