Polls show that people understand climate change when they are directly impacted by extreme weather. This year has been the warmest and most extreme for weather ever recorded in America; consequently, we’ve seen an increase in the number of Americans who say they are concerned about climate change.
Ultimately, getting people interested in climate means drawing a personal link to extreme weather for them. Climate communicators are increasingly understanding the need to make this connection, and are thus tailoring their messaging and storytelling accordingly. A new series from the environmental group Friends of the Earth, called “Climate Stories,” does exactly that. Along with the campaign among environmental groups to isolate fossil fuel companies, this climate/extreme weather humanization strategy is likely to be a dominant messaging strategy moving forward.
Watch one of the films: