ENVIRONMENT

The most important

thing you can do to fight Climate Change

Early last year the UN Development Programme (UNDP) conducted the biggest ever opinion poll on climate change, questioning 1.2 million people in 50 countries. That survey showed that two thirds of people believe it is a global emergency and support urgent climate action.

And contrary to the myth of there being a generational battle on this issue, the research also showed that there is almost no difference in views between generations on the importance of climate action.

So, we can see that this is clearly a topic a lot of people care about. Arguably, it also gives a clear mandate to politicians to do what is needed for “emergency” action. Any yet, even with such concern and calls to halt all domestic fossil fuel extraction, we are still seeing the UK Government (and others across the world) supporting the oil and gas industry, and putting profits before planet.

So what can we do?

People often ask what is the single most important thing they can do to bring about climate action. The answer is simple but, admittedly, can also be difficult at times: Talk about climate change and its solutions with people a lot more than you are doing now.

Climate silence exists

Studies suggest that even people who care about climate change, shy away from discussing it. The ironic reason why is because they don’t often hear people talking about it. It’s a vicious, reinforcing circle.

The winning message is about morality Change the climate conversation Talk to us. Talk to everyone!

Shifting opinion, and changing the conversation, isn’t easy. But one winning strategy we have seen is how Pope Francis influenced wide-spread change on people’s views of the climate crisis issue by presenting

Start talking about climate change and why this moral issue matters to you, and the actions you’re taking to help combat it.

climate action as a moral imperative. His message helped people to realise that global warming is something we should all be concerned about that will severely harm people and nature, wherever we live. But he also raised awareness of the fact that human-induced climate change is an issue of morality and social fairness in this “our common home”.

It is morally wrong for one group of humans to knowingly harm others – in this case, those of future generations and of high carbon emitters endangering those caught in climate-driven superstorms, floods, fires, droughts, and conflicts. And let’s not forget the greatest moral wrong of the human-induced climate crisis: the mass extinction event we have triggered to harm all life on Earth.

Yes, it is important to take action to reduce your carbon footprint. And it’s vital that you vote for what you value by supporting climate action candidates over those who don’t support it. But, before, during and after you do those things, to help change the climate conversation, you need to help start it.

Start talking about climate change and why this moral issue matters to you, and the actions you’re taking to help combat it. Talk to family, friends, acquaintances, and your local MP. And if you want a friendly, kind ear to start the conversation with, come and join our conversation about it at Transition Town MK.

> For more information on Transition Town MK, visit: www.transitiontownmk.org or email: transitiontownmk@protonmail.com