Inclusive climate communication, promising nudging


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Resources for inclusive climate communication and promising climate nudging / Tim Isaksson

To accomplish a relatively smooth transition from dirty fuels and the depletion of natural resources to robust societies and a stabilized climate, it is not enough to facilitate more productive conversations. Neither is it enough to make it easy for people to behave correctly. Together, however, the two can go a long way in counteracting, responding to and preparing against climate disruption – as well as laying the foundation for thoroughly disruptive politics and behavioral change. This site therefore contains overlapping, free resources for inclusive climate communication and promising climate nudging.

In order to counteract climate disruption, respond to the consequences already here, and prepare for what's coming, contemporary societies' flows, practices, and institutions need to be reimagined and reengineered into better, more shockproof forms (which definitely can become both thriving and beautiful). Inclusive climate communication is essential for keeping our benign climate from turning excessively hostile and for simultaneously achieving numerous co-benefits as we respond to and prepare against climate disruption. And engaging people begins with starting conversations on terms that they are familiar with and care about – to talk with, rather than to or above, them. Furthermore, working with the brain's biases and heuristics rather than against them can also accomplish much; so-called nudges also hold much potential for behavior change. A nudge can be said to be a change in the physical or psychological environment that affects a decision or behavior in a predictable way without changing incentives or restricting freedom of choice.

Thinking of these two approaches as "either–or" is counterproductive; "synergy" better describes the relationship between them – especially since behavior sometimes dictate attitudes rather than the other way around. We need to think about and talk more about climate disruption and emphasize the values that build responsibility-taking identities – and nudging can facilitate the work on this challenge by making sure that important but ultimately insufficient individual behavioral changes don't hijack the entire conversation and fill up people's 'pools of worry'. Furthermore, the two approaches often overlap, especially concerning re-framing communications in order to aid understanding, start conversations in better ways, and weave more impactful narratives. Relatedly, neither inclusive communication nor nudging are substitutes for strong policies (which are necessary) and activism (which pushes the frontier and rightly shames the big offenders). Rather, all of these ways to effect institutional and individual behavior change complement and enhance each other in a virtuos cycle.

Traditional climate communication has achieved much over the last 30 years, including the Paris Agreement. But at the same time it has all too often sown polarization rather than productive debate and cooperation. And for too long have we stood passive in the face of cognitive biases and heuristics that make us act in ways we don't want.

Disrupt Disruption contains and links to research-based resources that all aim to provide much-needed momentum for building values-driven engagement on all scales – individuals, communities, and movements, all in supportive networks of engagement – as well as building environments more conducive to smart decision making and behavior in agreement with the individual's wishes. The pointers include the need to more clearly convey exactly what is at risk and why it is worth caring here and now; to not forget hope and visions; and to always suggest solutions that are meaningful in the eyes of the person one is talking to, be it a peer, spouse, follower, citizen, politician, business leader, or ideological adversary.

Resources for inclusive climate communication and promising climate nudging

Projects (input welcome!)

Thought experiment:
25 years of inclusive climate communication

Comparisons
Thought experiment screenshot. The link takes you to a page advocating for inclusive climate communication. Thought experiment screenshot. The link takes you to a page advocating for inclusive climate communication.

Framing quiz for download: Which worked best?

Quiz screenshot. The link goes to a fun PowerPoint/pdf that introduces the difference that inclusive climate communication can make. Quiz screenshot. The link goes to a fun PowerPoint/pdf that introduces the difference that inclusive climate communication can make.

Master's thesis: Framing fee & dividend

Thesis screenshot. The link goes to a Lund University website containing the thesis. Thesis screenshot. The link goes to a Lund University website containing the thesis.

Links to projects I've been involved in

Guide & webinar: Managing psychological distance

Guide screenshot. The link goes to Climate Outreach's page for the guide/webinar about psychological distance. Webinar screenshot. The link goes to Climate Outreach's page for the guide/webinar about psychological distance.

Guide: Communicating climate disruption uncertainty

Guide screenshot. The link goes to Climate Outreach's page for the guide about communicating climate disruption uncertainty. Webinar screenshot. The link goes to Climate Outreach's page for the guide about communicating climate disruption uncertainty.

Guide:
Why are people still unconvinced about climate disruption?

Guide screenshot. The link goes to Climate Outreach's page for the guide about why people are still unconvinced about climate disruption. Guide screenshot. The link goes to Climate Outreach's page for the guide about why people are still unconvinced about climate disruption.

Research-based image bank I helped build:
Climate Visuals

Climate Visuals screenshot. The link goes to Climate Outreach's climate communication image database. Climate Visuals screenshot. The link goes to Climate Outreach's climate communication image database.

Short texts

Guest opinion piece on Climate Home: Climate scientists’ communication

Blog post screenshot. The link goes to a guest blog about climate scientists' communication I wrote for Climate Home. Blog post screenshot. The link goes to a guest blog about climate scientists' communication I wrote for Climate Home.

Guest blog about the Paris attacks and the Swedish climate minister: Added psychological distance

Blog post screenshot. The link goes to a post at Climate Outreach's blog I wrote about the November 2015 attacks in Paris. Blog post screenshot. The link goes to a post at Climate Outreach's blog I wrote about the November 2015 attacks in Paris.

Holiday dinners that are inclusive, positive, and nudging

Screenshot of text. The link goes to a note on Disrupt Disruption's Facebook page. Screenshot of text. The link goes to a note on Disrupt Disruption's Facebook page.
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