How to discuss climate change productively
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Renée Lertzman, climate psychologist
Communicating about climate change effectively is critical to get people to engage with it productively, according to climate psychologist Renée Lertzman. Communication about climate change is not working right now.
People are scared.
Almost three in four people (72%) worldwide are worried that global climate change will harm them personally at some point in their lifetime, according to survey data from the nonpartisan Pew Research Center.
Almost half of young people (45%) say their feelings about climate change negatively impact their daily lives, while 77% say the future is frightening with regard to climate change, according to a survey of 10,000 young people across 10 countries released this month by academics.
That fear needs to be acknowledged and worked through individually in the companies we work for, in local communities, in government and in organizations, says Lertzman. After that, we can productively talk about how to adapt, prepare and fight.
These are excerpts taken from Lertzman’s interview on video with CNBC. These excerpts have been edited to be concise and clear.
Getting from ‘me’ to ‘we’
There’s some truth in there. In actuality, no one — and I don’t care if you’re the biggest multinational company on the planet — no one actor right now is able to do it all. One person is not enough.
This crisis, I believe, is inviting us into a fundamentally new lens. It is moving beyond the “me” and towards “we.” It’s challenging our ability to see and feel ourselves as part and parcel of the system.
All of us are involved in the story of climate change and how we respond to it.
Renée Lertzman
Climate psychologist
That’s a really significant shift for a lot of us to make. This is not an intellectual shift. You can’t just snap your fingers and say “Okay. What, now I’m going start thinking, feeling, and acting like I am in a system.” This is not how it works. This is a constant reminder to ourselves and one another that we all are part of the bigger picture.
Each one of us is actually — I don’t care who you are — a vital character in that story. All of us are protagonists in the story about climate change and how we can deal with it.
We need to keep coming back over and over to that same reframe. This isn’t just about me. This is about me and my role in the larger story.
Have deep compassion for what you feel
It’s absolutely essential that we start from a place of really having deep compassion for that feeling of, “nothing I can do will matter.”
It’s not that we should not feel that way or that it is wrong for us to believe that our actions alone are sufficient. In reality, though, I am going to connect with myself and admit that it is really difficult. It’s very hard.
That feeling is a sign of my deep connection and concern for the world.
It is really, really important that we meet our experience — no matter what that experience is, overwhelmed, feeling insignificant, feeling frustrated, feeling angry, feeling numb, feeling checked out — that we meet that experience with, with total compassion.
Only then can we move on to any meaningful, effective, creative response. How can I channel the energy, concern and care I feel, which is coming from within me? You have to start at that point.
Be authentic
It’s really important that we don’t try to be “hope police” on ourselves, forcing ourselves to feel more hopeful or more upbeat or positive.
That’s something I find troubling and concerning. It’s not possible to force yourself into certain behaviors or feelings.
The solution-seeker is focused only on the solutions. There’s no room for emotions, uncertainty, or even ambivalence. This is almost an obsession with finding solutions. It can shut down people. This can alienate people, even those who have not yet reached that point. Some people still have questions and are trying to process the situation. What is the problem?
Solving the problem is easy. But, this problem-solving binary may not be the best for our current circumstances. It is an ongoing state of being, which will continue for the unforeseeable future.
The doom-and-gloom-versus-hope dichotomy or binary is false. This is one we need, as journalists, communicators and media workers, to dismantle.
The path to success is actually a middle way. This middle path is one that promotes authenticity.
It is all about genuine experience and authentic engagement. Recognizing and confronting the magnitude and impact of the loss directly can bring out tremendous hopefulness.
The doom-and-gloom-versus-hope dichotomy or binary is false. It is false to say that there are two options. The path to success is actually a middle way. This middle path leads to authenticity.
Renée Lertzman
climate psychologist
We’re living in a time of severe wildfire and drought and flooding. It’s important to see this clearly without condemning it or looking down on its demise. That is the reality. It is now reality.
First and foremost, humans need to be validated in their experiences.
Emotional intelligence is the way to go.
This means avoiding a binary approach to climate crises (doom, gloom, or only solutions).
You need to get out of the whirlwind between positive and negative. As I say in the TED TalkThat’s an artificial construct. This is not the way our brains work. It isn’t just negative, it can also be very positive. But it’s not as simple as that.
What companies can do to engage employees
There needs to be a level of endorsement at the leadership level. That’s it.
Equally important, however, is the ability of employees to be proactive and to suggest pilots or run experiments.
A company that decides to advocate climate change is the old model. They appoint a green team. It’s a bit of an older model. It’s a model I would consider to be a version 1.0.
This new model excites me, and it is also more person-centered. It is more real. It’s about being together. These issues can be viewed together. Talking about how to solve these problems. It is inclusive. This makes it feel more inclusive.
It is essential that there are more people in various levels of the company, at all parts, with the power and ability to instigate, mobilize and move the conversation forward. This doesn’t just happen at the C-Suite.
It should be a shared responsibility for everyone involved in climate change mitigation. No one is exempted from climate change because they aren’t knowledgeable enough. A successful response involves everyone contributing something and being part of it. You need to create an environment where everybody has a role.
Change is only possible when everyone feels welcome, valued, and included.
Hosting circles is one way to do this. People are trained to lead climate circles, or conversations. These small groups allow people to talk and share their feelings and thoughts about the issue.
Then it’s about actions. You will find it really works.
Although people don’t spend that much time in the feeling, it is important to have at least the ability to move there before you can get into action planning. We can’t just jump into action without discussing what people feel. This will shorten our ability to do amazing things.
A resource for those interested in further reading: Lertzman recommends Project Inside Out, an online resource she was commissioned to put together by the climate organization, the KR Foundation, based in Denmark. An online tool that provides guidelines psychological principles to help you work effectively in the fight against climate change.
You can also find this video:
Climate change is radicalizing young people — here’s what that means and how to combat despair
Grief and anxiety over climate change drove this 30-year-old to write a letter to his future child
18-year-old climate activist shares how she finds courage to face a ‘ticking time bomb’
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