By engaging, inspiring and entertaining people we can make them more receptive to facts and new ideas. With this in mind, artist and activist Sydney Spaceship investigates why humour is the secret tool in the fight against climate change.
I’ve learned a few things when it comes to talking to people about global warming.
Striking up a conversation around climate change can be a good icebreaker (pun intended) when meeting new people. However, it can also be an extremely frustrating discussion to have. It’s hard to know how best to approach the topic when people are quick to take offence or become defensive, especially when you start asking questions about the changes they make in order to lower their carbon footprint. I know, I know: you were only asking if they recycle.
I was once quick to conclude that the best way to have a good global warming discussion is not to have one at all. But then I asked myself: why do climate conversations always get so gritty? I mean, we all know the scientific facts: 10 years, irreversible damage, mass extinction, more plastic than fish in the ocean, et cetera et cetera. Scientist have been preaching this mantra for decades and people are still pretending not to hear.
The reason is simple: for some, stories of rising sea levels and mass migration can be more anxiety-inducing than they are inspiring. Straight, hard facts can have a tendency to scare people or send them into denial, pushing them to hide or ignore certain aspects of their lives in order not to think about the consequences their actions have on our environment. In a world where people respond to positivity, we have to find an uplifting way to tell people to change.