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Planet Now
Blog on Effective Environmental Communication
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Being part of Generation Z often means loving TikTok, wearing oversized clothing and feeling terrified of climate change. If you resonate with that last part, you may wonder why some people say they believe climate change is happening but still do not take steps to help the environment. A strategy for communicating about the environment is to connect the impacts of climate change to a person’s values. Speaking of TikTok, this strategy will help you keep “Pushin’ P” as you work to protect the earth that you value. Connecting climate to communities, justice and the economy are just a few ways to help people realize they should care about climate change. Communities People tend to view climate change as a distant threat in time and space, but it is already affecting many communities. For example, climate change has caused sea level rise at the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Even small storms flood the roads. Residents may have to move away or pay significant property taxes for new infrastructure. Flood insurance rates are high, which can make the area unaffordable. Climate communicators should help people see how climate change is a problem here and now since it harms communities in people’s home states or areas where they like to take vacations. Justice Some people may not realize that protecting the environment is about protecting people. Climate injustices occur when impacts of climate change do not affect all people equally. These injustices take many forms. Wealthy people are responsible for more carbon emissions because they tend to buy more items and travel more often than others, but they have more money to evacuate during climate-related natural disasters. Younger people, over their lifetimes, will experience more of the climate impacts that older people caused by emitting greenhouse gases throughout their lifetimes. Communities of color often face more risks from air pollution compared to white communities as a result of a history of residential segregation and unequal access to health care. Climate change worsens air pollution in these communities. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to slow climate change will help create a just society. Environmental communicators should discuss these injustices to show that caring about climate change means caring about people. The Economy If people value a healthy economy, they should know that climate change could cost the United States $1.9 trillion each year by 2100. Major reasons for this cost include hurricane damage, real estate destruction, increased energy demand and limited water supply. Damage from Hurricane Florence cost North Carolina $22 billion in 2018. Some people think climate policies will hurt the economy, but reducing climate impacts saves individuals, governments and businesses money over time. When someone says they think climate policies will hurt the economy, make sure they understand that failing to slow climate change will have huge economic costs. Your Turn!
Do not feel discouraged if that person does not immediately express more concern about climate change. Recognizing connections between climate change and values could make that person pay more attention to climate news and care more over time. Eventually, they may explore ways they can help solve climate change. If you use this strategy, share your experience in a comment below! If you have not talked with someone yet, you can also share ways you plan to help them understand connections between climate change and their values.
3 Comments
Noah Upchurch
1/28/2022 02:44:11 pm
Phew! The climate truly is an overarching vessel for our world. I love how you really weave in elements of capital desire, insurance, Justice, and immediacy that tangle this story we must be cognizant of. The story of our world’s decision to act must include an exciting next chapter. Loved this post!
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Tyler
1/28/2022 10:44:22 pm
This was an amazing read! I plan to talk to one of my friends who is interested in investments and saving money about this topic and get his take.
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Hannah
3/20/2022 09:26:48 pm
It’s so true how things feel more important when it hits close to home! I remember the first time I felt the effects of climate change hit my emotions hard! When a hurricane almost destroyed a beach house I stayed in climate change felt so real.
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Welcome to my blog! It is a combination of posts from my strategic writing (spring 2022) and personal branding (spring 2023) courses at UNC. I hope you will enjoy reading the posts and learning about the environment and communication.
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