Our Earth Month pledge: 25,000 conversations about climate change
To include photos from your climate conversations in CCL's Earth Day social media posts on April 22nd, please post them on social media with the hashtag #TalkAboutClimate or send photos to marketing@citizensclimate.org.
This Earth Month, CCL is asking volunteers across the country to have open and honest conversations about climate change with their friends, family, and communities. Our goal? 25,000 climate conversations to break the silence about climate change and pave the way for action.
Why Talking Matters
For such a big problem, we don’t talk much about climate change. All that silence makes climate change seem less urgent than it actually is, which in turn keeps us from adopting solutions at the pace that is needed. After all, if nobody is talking about it, how important can it be?
When we talk about climate change with our friends and family, the more real and relevant it becomes. And that makes it more likely that we can move from just talking to acting.
3 Steps to Talking About Climate Change
Talking about climate change doesn't have to be complicated. It's about keeping it real and relatable with the people in your life. This simple, 3-step process can help your conversations be more meaningful.
Heart
Connect on a personal level with an opening question.
Here’s an example:
"I've been a bit worried about how climate change will affect [include impact - i.e. my kids/grandkids/future generations, local economy, etc.] What about you?"
Head
Bring out concerns and impacts through facts and data.
Here’s an example:
“Right now, the world is heating up to 50 times faster than it has at any other time in history.”
Hands
Talk about solutions and your experience volunteering with CCL.
Here’s an example:
“If we act now, we can protect the planet for future generations. Our elected officials have the keys to solutions, but we need them to act. ”
Resources to support your conversations
Watch CCL's April Webinar with Ernesto Alcantar of Potential Energy!
Say this, not that
The words we default to often don’t resonate with people who aren’t thinking much about the problem of climate change. Changing our vocabulary can help other people make their own connection to the urgency of the problem of climate change.
Try saying THIS 😃
- Climate change is making our winters disappear
- We need to stop the pollution that’s overheating the planet
- We should upgrade to safe and clean energy.
Instead of THAT 🤐
- The climate crisis is here.
- We need to reach Net Zero by 2050
- We need to stop using oil and gas.
Check out the complete guidance from Potential Energy’s Talk Like a Human guide.
