Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Speak to Your Friends About Climate Change

The Art of Framing Climate Change: As a nature/culture interpreter, I try to make scientific facts and social issues inspiring and personal so park visitors, including children, can better understand and absorb them. Thus, a workshop for interpreters on Climate Change, one of the biggest challenges world populations have ever faced, provided important tools for my work, and also for anyone who encounters a Global Warming Doubter.

Three reasons many people don’t believe in Climate Change or Global Warming and are not engaged in helping to turn it around: they believe scientists have developed only theories, not facts; they think this is too big an issue and we can’t do anything about it; their values do not embrace the issue and are not negotiable.

Here are some keys for framing a discussion with park visitors and your friends and families about Climate Change so the conversation brings insight.

One: Listen and develop trust. When beginning such a conversation, use eye contact, open body language, paraphrase what the other person says so they know you are hearing their concerns and confusion, ask questions. Keep your opinions to yourself. Simply listen.

Two: Say things such as, “It sounds like you are concerned that we cannot solve this problem.” Or, “It sounds like you don’t believe it is happening because the scientists seem to contradict each other.” Be alert and truthful to what you are hearing.

Three: Tell your friend what you do just in case Climate Change is real. “Some species in our park are disappearing due to warming temperatures so we are expanding our park to include higher elevations.” Or, “I bought a car that gets great gas mileage.” Or, “ Weather stripping my home saved me a lot on heating bills this year.” Note that personal finances and Climate Change usually go hand in hand. Most people are willing to learn new ways to save money. And, park visitors love wildlife and are willing to do what they can to protect it.