If Americans are hearing anything about climate change, it is likely the bad news. Our planet and its oceans are warming faster than predicted, causing billion-dollar weather disasters, a myriad of health impacts, climate refugees and more, with little time to turn it around.
Headlines from recent climate reports confirm that we have only a handful of years to make progress. And the news reports and social media focus on victims of climate change impacts are routine. Wildfires, hurricanes, and floods are in everyone’s awareness like never before. We look with horror and compassion at the scores of lives impacted by these events.
But, we cannot afford to spend time wallowing in resignation or fatalism, or acting so panicked that we trigger people’s fright and freeze instincts. We need to motivate action on climate, and psychologists will tell you this is best done through inspiration rather than exasperation.
We all need to do what great leaders do. We must inspire and support those around us, including those in positions to shift policies and outcomes, and to act in everyone’s immediate and long term best interest by acting on climate. There is a positive message to be told. Want to be ready to speak with hope about opportunities and the way forward on climate action? These Talking Points will help.
