Talking about sustainability can be really hard. The situation can feel urgent, overwhelming, and terrifying all at once. This can become even more frustrating when it seems like the people around you don’t care, or don’t want to.

I know I can struggle with this a lot myself; thinking about these topics takes up so much of my time, and it can be hard to find the best way to communicate what I know and feel cohesively. Luckily, there are ways we can learn to communicate that have been tried and tested, and are more likely to help others progress and change their mindset.

Firstly, it’s worth noting that these conversations, while sometimes awkward, are ultimately very worthwhile. A 2019 study from researchers at Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that just 1/3 of Americans talk about climate often, or even occasionally. This lack of communication has led average Americans to believe that only 54% of fellow Americans believe global warming is happening, when the number is actually 69%.

The team also found that increasing the frequency of climate discussions had the power to shift people’s perceptions to believe climate science, which in turn led to significant changes in people’s beliefs that climate breakdown is happening, that it’s caused by humanity, and that there’s cause to worry. These findings suggest that having climate conversations with friends and family, while difficult, holds the potential to create pro-climate social feedback loops that encourage belief and behaviour change.

People change their own behaviours. Our role is to create an enabling environment and provide opportunities for people to become inspired by what their peers have achieved. When we offer people a chance to take a step closer to the lives, businesses or farms they dream about (and we make that change feel safe) then they’ll do the changing for us.

So, instead of asking “How can I make the public share my passionate concerns for climate, road safety, domestic violence etc?” we need to ask “How can I be of service to the concerns they already have?”

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So, now that we know that these conversations really can make a difference, how do we best go about them to create the space for positive change? Here are my suggestions.

Understand accessibility

This is something that often gets overlooked in sustainability activism but is incredibly important. It is vital that we always take an intersectional approach and understand that not everyone carries the same privileges we do. Sustainable fashion can be more expensive and less size-inclusive, some people live in food deserts where they don’t have access to fresh produce, sustainable policy can be ableist if communities aren’t consulted, and general policy that marginalises and mistreats people of colour, LGBTQ+, disabled people and low-income people doesn’t leave a lot of room or resources for sustainable options. Additionally, most of our modern-day problems are born out of colonial and racist histories, so antiracism work is vital to sustainability.

There are so many factors that come into play when it comes to people having time, resources and energy, so it’s important we’re sensitive to these things. If we have relationships with people, we can offer suggestions that may be accessible to them, but it’s important to make sure we aren’t preaching blindly to people who are in completely different circumstances or hold far less privilege than us.

Climate inherently intersects with social, political and scientific issues. We need to hear diverse voices and perspectives of marginalised communities in order to create change that actually helps everyone, and we must go into every conversation with this knowledge. It’s important that, as we learn about climate to talk to others, we make sure to seek out (and point others to) diverse sources on sustainable and climate education, and that our conversations are always informed by checking our own privilege before we do anything else.

Know what it means to you

It’s unlikely that you’ll change anyone’s mind with statistics or facts. Awareness and worry about climate is high, and growing in current times. Approximately 3/4 of UK citizens are concerned, alongside 2/3 of people in the US. On the other side of this, those who’ve fallen prey to misinformation are unlikely to be swayed by facts either.

However, appealing to things people care about through story and empathy is a lot more likely to work. While it’s not necessary to know every fact, figure, and statistic out there, it’s important to know what matters to you and why, as this is what you ground your reasoning and arguments in. Understanding ourselves, as well as our thoughts, feelings and behaviours around sustainability will help to cultivate self-awareness, meaning you’re more prepared to talk about what you care about.

Understanding your own story, and what personally matters to you, can help you to find this emotional resonance in others and establish common ground. Someone may not care about wildfires on the other side of the world, but they do care about their homes, families, friends and lifestyle. If you understand yourself and your feelings, you’ll find it easier to appeal to this side of people’s thinking too.

Ask what they know and how they feel, then redirect towards action

Some people don’t want to talk about sustainability because they don’t want to face the feelings that come with that, which is understandable. But it’s also important that, beyond behaviour change, we create space to process and confront our feelings together too.

To do this, break it down. Ask your friends first what they already know, and how this makes them feel. Try to listen with curiosity and without judgement or interruption; this is a vital tool, as it’ll help you understand their perspectives and what information has shaped their perceptions. When they tell you how they feel, ask questions. Try to understand what makes them anxious, confused or indifferent, as this will also inform how you communicate with them going forward. If asked to share your thoughts and feelings be honest, but be gentle, because this stuff is raw.

Once you have an understanding of your friend’s emotional landscape, then you can look at two sides of what’s going on. You can help them find healthy ways of coping with how they feel and dealing with their mental health, and you can look at actions to take. Ask them if they feel powerless, or if they feel there are things they could try doing. Work together to create a plan of things they could try that focuses on giving them a sense of agency and engagement.

Resources such as Project Drawdown, Extinction Rebellion, and ecocide law can be great to redirect people towards.

Talk about what’s already happening

When it comes to communicating that sense of urgency, it can also be hard for people to connect with global, large scale change that they can’t see in front of them, or to think about things that haven’t actually happened yet. Again, it can make the problem seem so large and far away that it seems impossible to change and unnecessary to care about.

Instead, focus on things that people are already experiencing and can understand. Extreme weather such as heatwaves, fires, heavy rainfall and hurricanes are increasingly common and affect many of us, so talking about these occurrences is an easier way to help people understand the tangible effects of climate breakdown in our day to day lives.

If you are going to talk about the future, especially in areas that are currently less affected, make it personal and easier to understand. Increases in global temperatures don’t mean much to the average person, so focus on the specifics of the area you’re in. For example, in Europe increased heatwaves will lead to higher chances of fatality, whereas in Florida rising sea levels will cause flooding further inland every decade, leaving houses uninsurable and potentially unsaleable. People may not understand the impact of warming at 1.5°C or 2°C, but they can tangibly see how weather change may hurt their own area.

Don’t shame people

Shaming people is unlikely to create change on an individual level. While shaming can work well when it comes to holding corporations and government to account, when it comes to an everyday person this tactic can lead to resistance, denial and hostility.

It takes time and work for people to change their habits, so a shaming tactic can make others feel as if you believe you’re superior to them. Instead, a more long-term approach, helping people understand and change over time, can help them shift their behaviour and lifestyle. Being compassionate rather than judgemental, offering suggestions while leaving space for people to make their own choices, and being open to conversation and relationship rather than talking down to someone can all be useful tools for creating real change.

Changing the language we use

A few months ago, the Guardian updated its style guide, arguing that climate change no longer accurately reflected the seriousness of the situation, instead advising using “climate emergency”, “climate crisis” or “climate breakdown” instead. Soon after, the Morgenbladet in Norway followed this example.

There are debates over the scientific nuances of these terms, and some worry that using strong language will make people feel powerless and therefore apathetic, leading to no action. I understand this position, but I think it addresses two different things.

Strong language can create positive results and may be necessary. After all, the level of mobilisation and widespread change we need to implement is akin to the response to World War 2. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to make it commonplace to equate these things, so that people are ready and understand the urgent need. The issue, then, is when language doesn’t also focus on solutions.

Talking about the need for mass mobilisation without pointing people towards action, does nothing to stop the feelings of helplessness. We need people to feel optimistic, and like there is a reason to care. Yes, we should use new language to accurately communicate the situation, but it must be coupled with solutions and calls to action, too.

To learn more about a new vocabulary on climate, check out Holly Rose’s post on the topic here.

Focusing on solutions

So how do we focus on solutions? Well, instead of just emphasising the size of the crisis, we need to say ‘we have to ask fast, but we still have the time and the means to do it’. And then talk about ways people can get involved.

This can look large or small scale, depending on the situations you’re in. It can look like talking about getting the train instead of flying, emphasising how much you love your reusable water bottle and coffee cup, mentioning the climate organisations you donate to, cooking plantbased meals for friends, suggesting sustainable and local restaurants when you go out to eat, talking about how you switched to an ethical bank and renewable energy provider, or discussing how you’re engaging with local climate activism in your area.