How to Effectively Communicate the Climate Crisis: 6 Simple Tips
The topic of communication is not a new one for us. We have discussed communication in previous blog posts (Choose Your Words Wisely, 3/29/2019), but did not offer any suggestions on how we can effectively communicate, and gather support for, the need for immediate behavior change. In this post, we offer 6 simple tips on how we can effectively communicate about the climate crisis we are facing.
1. Know your audience
In order to be effective, you need to know your audience and adjust to their vernacular. For example, when you are talking to fellow behavior analysts feel free to speak in behavioral terms. When you are speaking to strangers (e.g., members of your community), embrace more simplified terminology. As a field, we need to see the forest through the trees if we want to make a greater impact on the climate crises. A great first step is allowing yourself to be comfortable using everyday language to implement interventions.
2. Be specific
Focus on solving specific local problems (Todorov, 2010). Describe the intervention and the immediate positive consequences it will provide. If you are trying to pitch an intervention to people you don’t know, you don’t need to convince people of climate change. You just need to describe exactly what you are doing. For example, by introducing composting in the school cafeteria, students will reduce the amount of trash sent to landfills and learn about the waste stream process. How could anyone argue with that? You can save yourself a lot of time and aggravation by approaching communication in this way.
3. Sidestep politics
We live in a political charged world. We can’t assume a person’s beliefs, and it is important to be sensitive to your audience. The term “climate change” has associated various meanings based on how it has been conditioned. How you respond to this term depends upon where you were brought up, by whom, what news you watch, what books you read, and who you spend time.
Climate change can be an Sd for the scientific community for a general consensus on the enormity of the issues we are facing, but it can also be an Sd for conspiracy to destroy the American economy.
I used to spend a lot of time getting aggravated at climate change deniers and placing blame on them. I have now realized what a waste of time that was. I was an ineffective behavior analyst, because I didn’t consider their circumstances. I encourage you to not waste your energy on annoyance with others, but instead focus your efforts on developing interventions. This is where the real heavy lifting needs to be done.
4. Focus on target behaviors
Many activists are working on awareness or information-based campaigns. They are very well intentioned, but this isn’t the most effective use of time. Knowing doesn’t equal doing. For example, I consider myself to be an environmentalist and I avoid single use plastics whenever I can, BUT sometimes I need a coffee and forget to bring a reusable mug. I know I shouldn’t use single use plastics, but I still engage in unsustainable behaviors. I don’t need to know more, I need my behavior to be modified. Luckily, our field is very successful at doing just that.
5. Always be encouraging
Reinforce sustainable behavior whenever you can. If someone is doing something positive for the environment, don’t be dismissive of their efforts. You never want to be the reason someone’s sustainable behavior extinguishes. All of us working together is the only we can make a large difference. We need all sorts of topographies of behavior working together. Don’t discount a particular person doing their part. But if you really can’t accept it, start shaping their behavior.
6. Embrace how easy it is to create change
When you embrace these simple steps, politics and emotions somehow get left out of the conversation. You would be surprised how many people want positive changes in their community. It’s human nature to want the world to be a better place.
Many people feel helpless in the discussion of climate change, but we can offer tangible solutions that produce meaningful outcomes. In the best-case scenario, we provide hope and inspire others to act as well.
Meghan Martineau, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Todorov, J. C. (2010). On Global Warming and Local Indifference: Behavioral Analysis of what persons can do about their own near environment. Behavior and Social Issues, 19, 48-52.