Time to Talk Climate


There was a time when climate articles were a bit hard to come by. The last issue of Science Magazine, the publication of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, had three. The last two issues of the small ScienceNews magazine had six. Some are informational and some are disturbing.
One review started like this, “We urgently need international agreements to decrease future global CO2 emissions as well as government policies to mitigate existing local threats. Countries need to prioritize science-based mitigation and adaptation solutions…” or in another, “Political action must now follow in order to slow or mitigate these rates of global change.” 


Science studies are piling up as scientists watch ecosystems pushed to their limits. Bee populations are in steep decline. One article estimates the number of wild bee species is down from 6,700 in 1950 to 3,400 in 2010.   Another documents marine heat killing kelp forests. And yet another article documents the 2015-16 plight of the common murre seabird.
The common murre is the most successful sea bird. It flies faster than any other seabird and when diving for fish it can reach depths of two football fields. Yet, from the summer of 2015 to 2016 the murre lost 530,000 to 1.2 million of its seabird family. The culprit was the “Blob”, the marine heat wave which ravaged the North Pacific ecosystem.
Global warming is well documented in our Northwoods and in our lakes. Lucky for us we have been spared the rapid killer rise in temperatures we see in Australia, India, Europe and the Oceans.  It is easy for us to be lulled into complacency. But are we complacent?
Perhaps we are not. And, if we are not, then what do scientists suggest we do to coerce our governments to act?  Scientists say we should simply talk about it. We know we have the support of 97% of the 14,000 climate scientists and 100% all the reputable science institutions. We know we speak for our earth, our kids, and for truth. 
Years ago, when I started my quest to know global warming. I attended presentations by top climate researchers. Then, as now, they encouraged us to speak up. The reason is humans “believe” something not because scientists present them with overwhelming facts but because they develop opinions from one another.

It does take a certain amount of nerve to speak up. It always has. 

When speaking up remember you are conversing with another human. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. You can expect the best, (but not immediate), results if you do so in an inoffensive manner. After all, we know climate change is scary. We know the science and are often saddened by the state of human and ecological affairs.
 People who deny climate change are victims of what is called, “cognitive dissonance”. It is simply being overcome by fear to the point they create an imaginary world replacing fact. It is their psychological security blanket.
Remember, good communicators are good listeners. People love to talk about their passions. Listen for those passions and then ask them about these things they love. In the context of the conversation you may want ask them what they think about climate change and their passion.


You may want to tell a personal climate story.

At some point I like to add, “I am sticking with the guys and gals who got straight A’s in science all the way through high school and grad school. Those are the people I trust to deliver the best world for our kids.”
Warning: Other people’s opinions can infuriate! This is where we can work on a personal strength called restraint. Name calling, villainizing, raising your voice and even non-verbal cues like eye-rolling are usually counter-productive.

Whenever you do speak up, give yourself a pat on the back. It takes moral courage to speak up. At a minimum, you can always take pride in the fact you spoke up when it counted.

Search for more: “Nature Conservancy Lets Talk Climate”
                              The pdf booklet
                                            “KatharineHayhoe Talk Climate”                   "We can't give in to despair," Climate Scientist Hayhoe says. "We have to go out and look for the hope we need to inspire us to act -- and that hope begins with a conversation, today." 

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