There's an Elephant in the Room! How Talking Around Climate Can Be More Effective Than Talking About Climate

Abstract:

Conversations about climate change can easily devolve into polarization and political finger-pointing, where there should be a civilized discussion and enthusiastic brainstorming. How can we change the pugilistic back into the personable? We will examine some examples of reinstating dialogue in various settings, drawing on our experiences working with the public, students and educators in our visitor centers and public areas at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), as well as using off-the-clock opportunities to communicate about our work in social and other informal settings. We will share lessons about what works and what doesn't when communicating about climate online and offline, and the differences in discussions that occur in virtual, digital settings and face-to-face.