Can We Talk Climate?

Start Talking

Even though 7 in 10 Australians want Australia to be a global leader in finding solutions to climate change, it seems that few of us talk  about it with our friends and family.

We want to change that. The most recent reports on the current and forecasted impacts of climate change are clear—we are running out of time. Silence is no longer an option—and it could be doing more damage than you think.

Research shows there are typically four reasons people don't want to talk about climate change: 

• I don't know enough. 
• I don't want to talk about scary things. 
• I don't think I can make a difference. 
• I don't want to cause an argument. 

While these are certainly legitimate concerns, we're here to help you navigate them. We've created an e-book that provides tips on having a connected conversation—one with active listening where the goal is sharing honest experiences about climate change. 

TNC's Chief Scientist and Atmospheric Science Professor Katharine Hayhoe notes in her TED Talk that the number one thing we can do to break the divisive rhethoric around climate change is "do the exact thing we're not doing: talk about it."

The more people hear conversations about climate change, the more socially validated these conversations become. That’s a big deal. Research shows that people tend to believe what they think those around them believe. So we need to signal to our friends and neighbors that climate is not only on our minds, it’s a priority. And once they see that climate change is important enough for you to talk about, it’s easier for them to talk to others about it, too.