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TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE!

There is one action you can take that many climate experts say is the single most effective thing you can do to help solve the climate crisis. Talk about it with your friends and family members. Talk about why you care, and what climate actions you are taking.

Why is this so important? Most Americans care about global warming, yet rarely or never talk about it. Yet humans are social creatures, so this cycle of silence discourages engagement. There is growing evidence that the more we talk about climate change, the more we realize others care, and the more we take action.

What you can say: Talking about why you care about climate change and what you are doing about it are the two great places to start. I’ve recently been talking about the electric barbecue we got because we are electrifying our home, my worries about the recent summer heat and fire seasons in Oregon, and the Banking on our Future Pledge I signed to support banks that do not invest in fossil fuel expansion.

Who to talk to: According to the most recent Yale climate opinion poll, 71% of Americans say global warming is important to them. Talk to anyone you know who is concerned about climate change, which includes most of us. As climate scientist Dr. Katherine Hayhoe has said, “The biggest challenge isn’t science denial, it’s complacency.”

Here are a few more resources to inspire you:

Why you should talk about climate change right now, Katherine Hayhoe, Gizmodo, October 13, 2021

The most important thing you can do right now to fight climate change, according to science, Joe Romm, Think Progress, July 11, 2019

The magic of talking, Power Up for Climate Solutions Blog, May 20, 2022

The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: Talk about it, TED talk, Katherine Hayhoe, December, 2018