Talk to People

When it comes to educating people about global warming, television advertisements and speeches by famous people can go a long way.  But your voice is much more powerful. Really.

This is true because your friends, co-workers, and relatives are more likely to trust information coming from you than from someone they don't know.  We often go to a movie, read a book, or visit a restaurant based on a friend's recommendation. The same can be true with the climate crisis: Our friends and family are more likely to get involved when we ask them to.   By  showing others that you care about the climate crisis, you can inspire them to learn more and get involved.

We'll stop global warming and move toward a cleaner economy when more of us chat with a friend over lunch about renewable energy, talk to a neighbor about the need for action, or urge a relative to get involved. It's not someone else's job -- it's our job -- and these personal connections will shift the tide.  We're a million strong, and, if we each take time to spread the word, our combined impact will be incredible.

In addition to talking to your friends who are likely to "get it" on global warming, don't be afraid to talk to people who might be skeptical. Many times, these people are relying on outdated assumptions or have never had the opportunity to talk seriously about the issue. So take a moment and take a chance -- bring them into a conversation or invite them to an event.  You might be surprised to find how easily they can be persuaded when you share your views and provide them with the correct information.

You should talk about climate change in a way you feel is compelling, but here are some useful tips and resources:

  1.  Invite people to be part of the solution.  Don't attack them for not being fully informed or not being involved.

  2. Try to address your friend's particular needs and interests.  We are not all moved by the same arguments or ideas, so consider arguments best suited to your friend's particular situation. For example, some people might be motivated to protect natural habitats, but others might be worried about the national security implications of climate change (severe droughts or floods could cause mass migrations of refugees, destabilize governments, and cause military conflict).

  3. Talk about the urgency of the issue -- the scientific evidence around global warming and its likely future impacts is staggering:

  •  Thousands of the world's top scientists have reached a consensus that human activities are causing the climate to change.
  • The rise in global temperature will pose serious threats around the world, including rising sea levels, increased drought, and disruption of agriculture. Hundreds of millions of people may be forced from their homelands as the climate shifts.
  • Many scientists are now warning that we are moving closer to a "tipping point" that could -- within 10 years -- make many of the worst effects unavoidable. But, they tell us that we still have time to stop global warming if we start to act now.

  4. Talk about solutions.  We already have the technologies and know-how to solve it.  And the solutions that move us toward a clean and efficient economy are good for America -- jobs and American innovation are compelling even if you can't convince a friend about the scientific consensus.  You can read up on solutions to the climate crisis here and send links to your friends.

  5.  Talk about what they can do. Each of us can take meaningful action to help stop global warming.  Click here to encourage them to visit our Action Center.

  6. Use pictures and video -- We have a collection of useful pictures and videos that you can send to your friends. Click here to view our videos and other resources.

7.  Provide resources for friends who have the wrong information -- Sometimes our friends unwittingly pass on misconceptions or old information about global warming, but you can help change their tune.  A number of sites do a good job of debunking myths and misconceptions, such as  "How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic".

8. Respect that we all learn about issues in different ways and at different paces.  Our different backgrounds lead us to view similar information in different ways.  Let's not let our differences -- one of America's great strengths -- ever get in the way of respectful and thoughtful communication.

  9. Be patient -- Many times someone will say something with such little basis that you don't know how to respond. Take a breath and remember the scientific consensus is on your side.  You're not going to be able to convince everyone. At some point, you might simply need to redirect your energies towards friends who are ready to listen.


This site has a number of useful resources (with more coming soon) to help you with these discussions: