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Breaking the climate spiral of silence: lessons from a COP26 climate conversations campaign

Author

Listed:
  • Joshua Ettinger

    (University of Oxford)

  • Alexis McGivern

    (University of Oxford)

  • Marcus P. Spiegel

    (University of Oxford)

  • Brittany King

    (Independent)

  • Zoha Shawoo

    (Independent)

  • Arielle Chapin

    (Independent)

  • William Finnegan

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

Conversations about climate change are crucially important for mobilizing climate action, as well as for processing emotions and finding meaning in times of crisis. However, limited guidance exists on how to successfully facilitate these discussions, especially among individuals with a wide range of beliefs, knowledge levels, and opinions about climate change. Here, we describe the Talk Climate Change project — an Oxford University student-led climate conversation campaign associated with the 2021 United Nations COP26 meeting. Over 1000 individuals across 40 countries held climate-related discussions. They then described their discussions in submissions to an interactive conversation map ( www.talkclimatechange.org ), along with messages to COP26. We reflect on the campaign’s outcomes and offer advice on overcoming barriers to effective climate dialogue; how to handle emotional responses; and other considerations for catalyzing meaningful and productive climate discussions. We call for a stronger focus on training conversational skills, providing context-specific discussion resources, and empowering diverse people to have conversations about climate change among their families, friends, coworkers, and communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua Ettinger & Alexis McGivern & Marcus P. Spiegel & Brittany King & Zoha Shawoo & Arielle Chapin & William Finnegan, 2023. "Breaking the climate spiral of silence: lessons from a COP26 climate conversations campaign," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 176(3), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:176:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s10584-023-03493-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-023-03493-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert Brulle & Jason Carmichael & J. Jenkins, 2012. "Shifting public opinion on climate change: an empirical assessment of factors influencing concern over climate change in the U.S., 2002–2010," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 169-188, September.
    2. Gregg Sparkman & Nathan Geiger & Elke U. Weber, 2022. "Americans experience a false social reality by underestimating popular climate policy support by nearly half," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Susanne C. Moser, 2014. "Communicating adaptation to climate change: the art and science of public engagement when climate change comes home," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 5(3), pages 337-358, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Unay-Gailhard, İlkay & Lawson, Kati & Brennan, Mark A., 2023. "An examination of digital empathy: When farmers speak for the climate through TikTok," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 102, pages 1-1.
    2. Landon Yoder & Alora Cain & Ananya Rao & Nathaniel Geiger & Ben Kravitz & Mack Mercer & Deidra Miniard & Sangeet Nepal & Thomas Nunn & Mary Sluder & Grace Weiler & Shahzeen Z. Attari, 2024. "Muddling through Climate Change: A Qualitative Exploration of India and U.S. Climate Experts’ Perspectives on Solutions, Pathways, and Barriers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-20, June.

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