We know that we need to talk about climate change, but not everybody wants to.
Starting conversations about climate change can be daunting, disheartening, and downright confusing. But starting a climate conversation is one of the most important things you can do for the planet.
You don’t need to be an expert to talk to your family about climate change. People trust the opinions of their friends and family more than those of unknown experts and scientists. You can open their mind to new ideas and inspire them to care more, because the biggest challenge to climate change is not denial, it’s apathy. The best way to make your loved ones care about climate change is to show them how much you care. This should be the main goal of your conversation.
Knowing the right time to start a climate conversation can be hard. It’s important not to ambush people – if you’re at the butchers with your Dad he probably doesn’t want to listen to you suddenly list all the reasons why eating meat is bad for the environment. Wait to bring up the conversation when your family isn’t busy or distracted, like when you’re out for a walk or sitting down over a cuppa.
So, once you’ve found the right moment, what do you talk about?
Start by making it about you and about them. Talk about things that are relevant to your lives, things that you can work towards changing. Tell them how you’ve noticed that there are more instances of extreme weather recently, and that this makes you feel anxious. Or, better yet, ask them a question like ‘Has climate change impacted your life?’ or ‘What worries you the most about climate change?’. People react much more positively to personal experiences than confusing, scientific jargon and statistics.
Don’t forget that conversations are two-way. So, it is crucial to LISTEN to the other person. Try not to interrupt them. Allow them time to get their ideas out. You want them to feel like you value their opinions and experiences so ask them follow-up questions. Importantly, don’t just wait for your turn to speak and don’t launch into a tirade about how the world is burning and how the ice caps are melting and how we’re all in mortal peril. Nobody wants to talk about that!
It’s important to remember the goal of your conversation: to make them care. So, try to avoid accusatory or defensive language. If your family feel like they’re being judged they won’t want to have a climate conversation again! Don’t forget, when it comes to climate change we all have common ground: we care about protecting wildlife, we care about protecting others from climate disasters like flooding, and we care about future generations.
Finding common ground ensures that your conversation ends on a positive note. You can thank your family member for sharing their ideas and for listening to yours. You can recap what you’ve learnt from the conversation to let the other person know that you value their involvement. Remember, people are much more likely to open up another climate conversation with you if they have had a positive experience during their first one.
So, the next time you and a loved one are on a walk, or drinking tea, or driving in the car, perhaps try to open up a conversation about climate change. It may seem scary, but it is the best thing you can do. You have the power to start important conversations. You have the power to make people care about climate change. This is a power that experts and activists don’t have. So, put your power to good use.