One of the most important things people can do to address climate change is talk about it, says Katharine Hayhoe of The Nature Conservancy. Several of our Environment Action Group attended her talk on Wednesday, April 24. [https://record.umich.edu/articles/wege-lecturer-says-effective-climate-action-is-fueled-by-hope/] Hayhoe notes that two-thirds of people in the United States are worried about climate change, but only 8% are activated to do something about it.
Talking about climate change doesn’t mean trying to change the minds of those who believe it is a hoax. Rather, it’s about spending energy on the people who are worried about climate change but don’t know what to do. That is a huge group of movable people.

The media tends to focus on “doom and gloom headlines” about climate change because they generate clicks, but that doesn’t spur people to act. It’s important to reframe the messages about climate change to induce hope, not dread, and to include positive solutions.

Referencing the title of her 2021 book, “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World,” Hayhoe said climate change isn’t about saving the planet; it’s about saving us. “Effective action is fueled by hope and love,”