Communicating Climate Change

This episode features a conversation with Melis Figanmeşe, campaigns lead at IFRC, The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. It was recorded in June 2023.Through her work, which focuses on climate communications, Melis is tasked with bringing together 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and 14 million volunteers around the world to campaign together.In this capacity, she’s launched an award-winning campaign, #ClimateChangedMe, together with Greta Thunberg, and continues to find compelling ways to raise the alarm on the climate crisis through storytelling. Amongst other things, Melis and I discussed how stories can help audiences relate to the ways that climate change is impacting the lives of others, the importance of cutting out the jargon and communicating with accessible language, and some practical tips for running successful campaigns at scale. Additional links: The #ClimateChangedMe campaign International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent

This episode features a conversation with youth climate activist and advocate of indigenous perspectives, Keshoe Isaiah. It was recorded at the end of June 2023.Keshoe, who hails from Kenya’s Maasai community, works to amplify the voices of indigenous and local communities. He is a member of Fridays For Future Kenya, contributes to Penn State’s UN-supported Global Youth Storytelling and Research Lab, serves as the country representative for Kenya at the youth-led Mock COP summit, and is also the Head of Environment and Climate Change at Kenya’s National Youth Caucus.He currently studies economics and finance at The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, focusing on climate finance. Amongst other things, Keshoe and I discussed the indivisibility of nature and culture within the Maasai community, the role of indigenous perspectives in conservation and adaptation, and the power of stories to carry important information across generations. Additional links: Fridays For Future KenyaPenn State’s UN-supported Global Youth Storytelling and Research LabThe Mock COP summitKenya’s National Youth CaucusMAIN Network

This episode features a conversation with climate communications expert and business activist, Lucy von Sturmer. It was recorded in February 2023.Lucy is the initiator and chair of Creatives for Climate, a global non-profit turning professionals into change agents through training courses, collaborative projects, and a fast-growing community committing their creativity to driving positive impact. She is also CEO of The Humblebrag, an award-winning climate communications agency working to support business leaders and brands in taking a stand on social, cultural, and environmental issues. Recognized by The University of Auckland as a “40 Under 40” change-maker and featured in Forbes as a creative leader to watch, Lucy has over a decade of experience building movements and leading global brands to have a positive impact at scale.Amongst other things, Lucy and I talked about theories of change, divesting talent from polluting industries, and how inevitable personal limitations make radical collaboration a weapon of choice.Additional links: Join Creatives for ClimateCheck out the Creatives for Climate Greenwash Watch trainingWhat’s a theory of change anyway? Badvertising - Stop adverts fuelling the climate emergencyClean Creatives - Cutting ties with the fossil fuel industry

Over past episodes, we’ve heard from communications practitioners, academics, activists, and many more, all sharing their respective insights into how we might better communicate climate change. Despite the range of perspectives, though, these guests all had one thing in common: They’re adults. This time, I wanted to explore a very different worldview, that of a child, to see if there might be valuable lessons we could learn and incorporate into our own approaches to communicating climate change. And, I have to say, by the end of this episode, I think you’ll agree that there are plenty. This episode features a conversation with 11-year-old climate podcaster, Zachary Fox-DeVol. It was recorded in April 2023. Zach is the host of We The Children, a podcast discussing climate change and solutions to global warming from a kid’s perspective.Amongst other things, Zach and I talked about climate anxiety and feelings of helplessness in younger generations and the wider public, the gaps he perceives in climate communication as it stands today, how he stays up to date on climate news, and who his climate heroes are and why. I also got the chance to ask one of Zach’s moms, Carol, a few questions about the impact that raising such an engaged child has had on their family life, as well as any advice she might have for parents in a similar position.Additional links: Zach’s website can be found here.

This episode features a conversation with Solveig Zophoniasdottir, Head of Learning at the EU’s main climate innovation initiative, Climate-KIC. It was recorded in March 2023.Solveig, who’s worked to expand and facilitate the learning processes of organisations for over 15 years, focuses on skill building and shifting mindsets to catalyse transformation in the climate space. She’s an expert practitioner, working to create change both within and across different cultures, and is passionate about systems change and systems innovation. Amongst other things, Solveig and I discussed the need for systems perspectives in efforts to address the climate crisis, what communicators can learn from this kind of thinking, and the value of embracing uncertainty, complexity, and experimentation.Additional links: The Climate-KIC websiteDave Snowden - How to organise a children’s partyThe Cynefin Framework

This episode features a conversation with writer, researcher, campaigner, and advisor, Robin Webster. It was recorded at the end of March 2023.Robin, who’s been knocking around the environmental world for twenty years or so in a variety of roles, first became interested in the disconnect between political debate about climate change and how we talk about it in real life, whilst working as a campaigner for Friends of the Earth. She went on to help start the now-mighty Carbon Brief when it began life as a climate science and energy blog, and has spent – her words, not mine – more time than is healthy, digging into the intricacies of climate policy, including as a researcher for the European Climate Foundation. Robin worked at UK-based climate communication organisation, Climate Outreach, from 2018 to 2023, focusing on providing civil society campaigners with knowledge, tools, and research to help them engage all kinds of audiences on climate change. At the moment she is taking a break, which she thinks everyone in this sector should do on occasion, but I caught her just before she embarked on this new chapter.Amongst other things, Robin and I discussed the challenges associated with talking about climate change with family, friends, and others; what doing so can achieve in relation to the bigger picture; and what a good climate conversation looks like.Additional links: The Climate Outreach Talking Climate HandbookJulia Steinberger's article that Robin quoted - "The kids are not OK"Climate Outreach report on communicating climate justice with younger people across Europe is hereClimate Outreach website

This episode features a conversation with Ravi Sreenath, Managing Director of data-for-good advisory firm, Ripple Research. It was recorded in April 2023.Ripple Research operates at the intersection of data science, behavioural psychology, and social impact, collaborating with universities, international organizations, and businesses to conduct research and deliver insights on key themes including climate change, misinformation, hate speech, infodemics, ESG, and mental health. Amongst other things, Ravi and I discussed the benefits of applying big data to pressing challenges like the social impacts of climate change, what aggregated online activity can tell us about society, and how we can use those kinds of insights to create more impactful communication.Additional links: Ripple Research’s websiteRipple Research’s work on climate anxietyRipple Research’s work on climate polarization

This episode features a conversation with senior journalist, media researcher, and independent advisor, Alexandra Borchardt. It was recorded in March 2023.Alexandra, who holds a Ph.D. in Political Science, is the former managing editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, one of Germany’s major daily newspapers. With a strong journalistic resume, she now teaches, advises, and coaches on topics around journalism, innovation, digital transformation, and leadership, for organisations and institutions including the World Association of News Publishers, The Technical University of Munich, the University of the Arts, Berlin, and Hamburg Media School. She is also affiliated with the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford as a Senior Research Associate. Alexandra is the lead author of the recent European Broadcasting Union’s News Report entitled “Climate Journalism That Works - Between Knowledge and Impact,” which formed the basis of our conversation. Amongst other things, we discussed the shortfalls of climate journalism conducted over the last few decades, the value of sidestepping big stories and big names in favour of approaches that bring news home to people in their local contexts, and the responsibility that climate journalists hold by virtue of their work.Photo by Ina Abraham.Additional links: The “Climate Journalism That Works - Between Knowledge and Impact” reportAlexandra’s website Connect with Alexandra on Twitter or LinkedIn

This episode features a conversation with Just Stop Oil supporter, Phoebe Plummer. It was recorded in March 2023.Phoebe, a 21-year-old student from London, has been arrested eight times for acts of civil disobedience associated with nonviolent civil resistance group, Just Stop Oil, most notably after having thrown soup on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery. Amongst other things, our discussion explores the role of direct action in response to the climate crisis, the urgency of the situation, and what we, as communicators, can learn from groups like Just Stop Oil. Additional links:Just Stop Oil’s websiteJust Stop Oil activists throw soup at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

This episode features a conversation with author and entrepreneur, Georgina Wilson-Powell. It was recorded in March 2023.A consumer-focused sustainability expert with 20 years of experience from the media industry, Georgina is on a mission to make sustainable choices the norm. Georgina’s accolades include founding Pebble, the UK’s leading sustainable living magazine, as well as launching her own eco festival and creating a purpose-led online community around it. She now focuses on consultancy, speaking, and her own books.Her first book, “Is It Really Green? Eco Dilemmas Answered” reached the top of the Amazon bestseller charts, whilst her new book “365 Ways To Save The Planet”, which formed the basis of our conversation, has just become available. Amongst other things, our discussion delved into the value of actions taken at the individual scale, the benefits of encouraging small shifts in behaviour rather than enormous ones, and the pressing need for a broad, inclusive approach to talking about – and acting on – climate change. Additional links:Georgina’s website365 Ways To Save The PlanetIs It Really Green? Eco Dilemmas Answered