I’ve published multiple posts within the last few months along this same line, as Warmists trot out their latest spreading awareness campaign, namely, how to talk to those pesky non-believers. Hey, it’s easier than giving up fossil fuels and most trappings of a modern lifestyle, right?
(Alternatives Journal) The climate is changing, and more quickly than expected. What was once only in computer models is now before us: rising temperatures, melting Arctic ice, migrating species, Hurricane Sandy and other storms. Disruption is the new normal.
Because The Weather was always stable and predictable, the Arctic never melted, and species never moved before.
But what should scientists (and other concerned people) actually say? Here are three ideas.
1. Explain what scientists know, especially the fact that they have reached consensus. With the media always aiming to present “balanced” views, that fact that reality is unbalanced – 97% of scientists are convinced climate change is happening – can get lost. There’s also evidence that awareness of this scientific consensus can be a powerful motivator. It clears away debate, enabling a serious conversation about what to do next.
If you’re bringing up consensus, it’s not science.
2. Listen. Facts are not enough. They can even be unhelpful: gloomy predictions of catastrophe may only paralyze. Instead, climate communicators need to practice listening. As Katherine Hayhoe and others have argued, climate conversations must be informed by how people know and care about the world. Seeing climate change with one’s own eyes is a powerful motivator, and so are explanations that connect with how people believe the world works. Whether, say, actions by government, business, or individuals are considered effective influences how people respond to climate information. So those who talk about climate need to know how their audience sees society and the world. That means hearing what they have to say.
This one is really important, because it goes to the heart of what Warmists are pushing. They want people to see the weather, and, really, everything that happens, as being linked to “climate change”. If they know what you care about, they can trot out scary stories and hopefully create a convert to the cult.
3. Remember the So What. People need viable solutions more than warnings, and ideally, solutions that are not just about climate change. These might be local – say, finding an alternative to highway expansions that hardwire a city’s car dependency. Nationally, this could mean making the case for an energy efficiency revolution. The point is: solving the climate conundrum only starts with the science.
Interesting: none of the solutions revolve around personal responsibility, practicing what one preaches.
