This summer of disasters has shown us that climate impacts are not political, and it is past time we stopped talking about them as if they were. A flood doesn’t knock on your door and ask who you voted for in the last election before it sweeps your house away, nor does wildfire smoke distinguish between Republicans and Democrats before it chokes the air. People who raise awareness about climate change know that how you communicate your message matters, and there’s much to learn from them.
We surveyed the top organizations and individuals who regularly communicate about climate change across the U.S. and Canada. Almost none said that advocating for candidates or policies was the goal of their work. Their top priority was helping people understand what’s happening and why it matters: we’ve always had heatwaves and droughts, storms, and floods—but the faster the planet warms, the worse these events get.
Climate change is loading the weather dice against us, and its effects are growing. A recent study estimated that deaths caused by extreme heat are vastly under-reported. Air pollution, whether from burning fossil fuels or wildfire smoke, is responsible for a growing list of health impacts, from increased risk of asthma and dementia to premature death.
The financial toll of climate change is also on the rise as climate-related expenses, including rising utility bills and insurance premiums, are already adding at least $400 to $900 to yearly household budgets. And as we have seen over the past few years, there are no climate havens: we are all at risk. Here’s the thing, though: when people connect what’s happening to why it’s happening, their support for all sorts of climate action grows.
This fact is true in the U.S., in Canada, and in dozens of other countries too. Because we need solutions at scale that make the easiest, most affordable choice the best choice for the planet and our future. This requires action at every level: individual, community, and corporate action, but also government policy that enables and accelerates the rest.
Even as the impacts from climate change grow, data show that we still aren’t hearing or talking about it enough. Just under half of Canadians and 41% of Americans read or hear about climate change once a week. Only 20% of Americans discuss global warming with family and friends a few times a month or more.
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