BY PETER MAKWANYA
AS people around the world are getting more concerned about climate change, opening up on the subject and engaging in conversations openly is still scary among the majority of people.
It is common that people can be found talking about murder, HIV/Aids or the COVID-19 pandemic but they are not as free when it comes to opening up on climate change issues. The only way people can open up about climate change is to engage in daily conversations, based on their experiences of weather issues. Avoiding engaging in climate change conversations, would remove the urgency and promptness that climate change requires. Therefore, climate change can end up being relegated to the periphery of key conversation issues yet it is supposed to cross-cut topical issues.
Opening up on the subject is critical in confidence building and improving the people’s knowledge on climate change. It is in the best interest of resilience building that vibrant and dynamic dialogues be revived in people’s daily conversations.
It is not that the people are completely blank on the subject of climate change but what maybe preventing them from speaking out is just the fear factor including lack of exposure to make the climate change discourse a perfect one.
People don’t need to know everything about climate science in order to talk about climate change. In the broad framework of climate change discourse, people should always try to find out what they have in common in order to establish a frame of reference.
This makes those engaged in climate change discourse feel connected, thereby becoming authentically engaged.
Climate conversations are important in building interactive spaces for people to reflect their experiences and worldview.
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For successful climate change conversations to take place, listening is also vital in influencing the course of dialogue.
Climate change is a community practice which requires action, therefore, it should not be discussed in isolation, without practice and away from its participatory nature.
Of course, people should not just learn, they should also practise.
The greatest challenge that people are demonstrating by opting to be silent on climate change is the informal agreement to keep silent on the subject.
In this regard, investing in climate silence retards climate action, climate knowledge dissemination, information and understanding. Daily climate change conversations should be part of social exchanges that add up to the ongoing debates on the climate discourse.
Climate change dialogues are part of a broad network of communication tools that are peaceful and sufficiently engaging. These are instrumental for the people to make informed choices on climate change issues rather than focusing on winning an argument.
Partners in climate conversations always seek common ground to connect with one another, for their resonating needs, wants and necessities, including shared values. Climate conversations and dialogues seek to tone down negative attitudes about climate change culminating in productive and life-changing interventions.
Conversations on climate change situate the climate change discourse in the practical realm and context which requires prompt and immediate action rather than a far and distant problem.
Communicating climate change problems requires accurate, factual and psychologically appealing information. Not being a climate scientist doesn’t mean that one is not qualified to talk about climate change issues because they cannot provide data representations and the like.
The cross-cutting nature of climate change should make everyone comfortable to engage in conversations.
Repeated conversations will graduate into motivating stories, designed to transform living experiences and change lives.
Stories are also powerful tools of communicating climate change. Climate conversations should not switch-off the keen interest of partners in dialogues to share information. The overwhelming nature of the climate change problem should be neutralised by engaging in sustainable and empowering dialogue that instils hope, faith and belief.
Sometimes not knowing what to do about climate change may not be an end to itself but rather an unfolding process, that requires relevant communication tools and strategic engagements.
Climate conversations draw from a wide range of perspectives, making them highly diverse and action oriented. Within the context and framework of climate dialogues and conversations, in comes different ways in which climate change can be framed in order to transform other people’s views and mental references. In this regard, climate conversations are more than what is assumed or imagined but quite real, informed, locally relevant and unfolding.
In my view, people need to bring each other closer through constructive engagements, dialogues and strategic communications.
- Peter Makwanya is a climate change communicator. He writes in his personal capacity.
