What’s your experience of talking about climate change?
“I don’t have many conversations where it comes up”.
“It seems to have dropped off the agenda”.
“Conversations about climate change used to start with something that had been in the news”.
“When people don’t seem to care about the climate crisis, I feel frustrated”.
“I believe arguing is counter-productive, but I don’t know what to say instead”.
“The more I’ve learnt about climate change, the harder it is to talk about it. Maybe that’s temporary”.
“Most people don’t want to talk about it”.
“People with kids and big cars don’t want to talk about it even though they must know it’s happening”.
“I’m not good at arguing. I’ve tried to understand how to talk to people, but it’s hard to keep the things I’ve learnt in my head while I’m in the middle of the conversation”.
“I haven’t tried to talk about climate change with anyone new recently”.
“I have talked to people on XR stalls. I find it hard to talk to people anyway”.
“I’m biting my tongue at work. When they are into things that cause climate change. I don’t want to be a party pooper”.
“With young people, I don’t want to add to their anxieties”.
“I worry about feeling hypocritical if I say anything because I have a car, for example”.
“I should talk about it”.
“I am sympathetic to people not wanting to talk about it. If they come back with something glib, I don’t want to push it”.
“Some people are defensive”.
“Some people respond negatively”.
“There was an article in The Guardian where more than 80% of people were worried, but don’t realise they are the majority”.
“The press seems less concerned with the issue”.
“I talk about my emotions and feelings about climate change”.
“You can’t talk people into your position. You need to meet them where they are”.
Themes we could explore further:
- The changing media environment. Social media and alternative facts and alternative realities.
- Talking with parents.
- Talking with younger generations.
- Doomers and optimists.
- Our reasons for wanting to talk to people about climate change.
- Influencing the public conversation.
- Having personal conversations in our everyday lives.
Our mindsets, values, and beliefs:
Why do we believe it’s important to talk about climate change? What are we hoping will happen?
“Conversations can break the taboo”.
“If I’m honest, I do want to persuade people even though I doubt that works”.
“I want to feel less alone”.
“I have a religious past, and I think it’s a bit like evangelising”.
“Maybe if I talk to enough people, one of them will have the answer!”.
“I want to talk about the future. We should act like we’re in an oppressive regime to be ready in case that happens”.
“The government will only act if enough individuals act”.
“It has a cumulative effect. Someone I worked with told me if you want someone to do something, you have to ask three times”.
“It’s good to talk to encourage people. Maybe they feel they’re alone.
“Encourage people in their climate actions”.
“Be positive. There is the idea that climate action could make life better”.
“If 89% of people don’t know how others think, someone has to go first and get it started”.
“If climate action also benefits other parts of life that are important to people, that could be a good start, but would need research”.
What do you think or feel at the end of today’s conversation?
“I want to put a bit more thought into why I want to have a conversation and how to practise”.
“I need to talk to people more about climate change”.
“Meet people where they are”.
Sources
‘Spiral of Silence’: Climate Action Is Very Popular, so Why Don’t People Realise It?” by Damien Carrington. The Guardian, April 22, 2025,
Living with the Climate Crisis is a course designed to help people manage their emotions and take action on climate change. The second module is about talking with friends, family and colleagues. The Participants’ Handbook outlines the ideas briefly. The Facilitator’s Guide goes into more depth, but the ideas are still explained in a straightforward style. There is also practical advice on how to have conversations and suggestions for group activities. Carbon Conversations is an older version of the course that ran from 2007-2015.
Climate Outreach is a British Charity that provides research and training to help people talk about the climate crisis. Much of their material is aimed at helping groups and activists develop their messaging, but I found the Britain Talks Climate project and Climate Outreach Handbook helpful for personal conversations.