Avoiding judgment in climate change conversations

How can we have productive climate conversations with people who might have different priorities and viewpoints than our own?  Climate Outreach has done extensive research on what resonates with diverse audiences in Alberta, the “Texas of Canada,” as my Albertan husband semi-affectionately calls it. (Hi to my family in Edmonton! <3) These tips apply anywhere for how to approach your audience well, a core tenant of good conversations.  The Alberta Narratives audience report offers tailored language that’s been tested to communicate respectfully and effectively with eight groups: oil sands workers, conservatives, environmentalists, rural Albertans, business leaders, youth, new Canadians, and people of faith.  For example, Climate Outreach suggests focusing on gratitude for hard work and prosperity (not entitlement) when talking to conservatives. For farmers and ranchers, focus on "solutions that make sense within a rural context such as renewable energy”, where solar panels are seen as more realistic than urban-centric biking and electric vehicles. What not to do: don’t make people feel guilty “for who they are and what they care about”. Note that respectfully challenging people requires strong trust (which takes time to build). Any challenges must “be done in a way that supports their sense of shared identity, and suggests that they hold they keys to solutions.” (p. 58) Climate Outreach tested language that was consistently approved across all eight groups, and rejected language that any group strongly disliked, with the goal of building a foundation for shared conversation that does not drive polarization. They offer a sample narrative, which can be adapted for authentic, effective communication. For example, to talk about energy, see their guide below. What are some of your most successful climate conversations? Your most challenging? Let me know in the comments.

In my latest article for Treccani, where I delve into the challenging topic of how to talk to a #climatedenier. 🌱 I have to be honest, when someone dismisses #climatechange, my initial reaction is, "I really want to believe you." Despite my strong values, there's a natural appeal to the comforting view that the future will remain the same and that these threats are exaggerated. 🌏Well, they are not, but the key point is that playing the blaming game, climate shaming, or assuming that because "we believe" we are superior, isn't going to change anyone's position. In psychology, denial is when you refuse to acknowledge the significance or consequences of your behaviors or the reality of a situation. #Climatedenial, often used as an insult, is why many powerful individuals who deny climate change prefer to call themselves "skeptics." Espen Stoknes aptly writes, "When we negate, ignore, or otherwise avoid acknowledging the unsettling facts about climate change, we find refuge from fear and guilt." 🛡️ This active denial allows us to defend ourselves against those who criticize our lifestyle and claim the right to tell us how to live. Here, denial is not a lack of information or intelligence but "self-protection." Understanding this is crucial: people who deny #climatescience are not ignorant; they are reacting to a message that threatens their worldview, values, and sense of self. 🌿 Asking them to change their view on climate change is asking them to reconsider everything that matters to them. It's evident that certain individuals are more likely to deny climate change because their identity feels more threatened by the climate message. People often accept "science" that doesn't challenge their worldview but reject what does. 🧠 This is why effective communication that considers these aspects is essential. As the renowned Australian climate activist Anna Rose said in an interview with social researcher Rebecca Huntley, when asked, "Should you argue with a climate denier?" she responded, "Only if you know there is an audience you can persuade." 🎤 Quoting and paraphrasing psychologist Jonathan Haidt from his book "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion," anger and shame don’t work. Once you're no longer angry, you’re not committed to reaching the conclusion that righteous anger demands: we are right, they are wrong. As George Marshall suggests, instead of viewing those trying to derail or undermine the climate cause as enemies, we should see them as "obstacles." 🌱 Rather than seeing our efforts to combat climate change as a war, we should view them as a game—a really, really long game. 🎯 Link: https://lnkd.in/d7wRKrvM The Earth Society EU Climate Pact Benelux #ClimateCommunication #EnvironmentalPsychology #SustainableFuture #PositiveEngagement #ClimateAction #LongTermGoals #JonathanHaidt #GeorgeMarshall #WalktheTalk

Why facts aren’t fixing the climate crisis and how the first AI showed us why. In the 1960s, a computer program named ELIZA accidentally became the world’s first successful AI. It mimicked a therapist by simply reflecting people’s own words back to them. It wasn’t clever. It wasn’t scientific. But people loved it – because it didn’t challenge their beliefs. It confirmed them. Fast-forward to now, and we’re still seeing this pattern – not in therapy, but in how we respond to climate change. People don’t want more climate facts. They want their feelings and values reflected. That’s why we can’t fight climate misinformation with data alone. It backfires. Just like ELIZA, people prefer conversations that resonate, not ones that confront. So what can we do? 🌍 We need to adopt an AI informed approach, not using artificial intelligence but emotionally intelligent tactics: Here’s how: ✅ Mirror values, not facts – Instead of debating the data, reflect someone’s values. Talk health, family, community, pride in nature, fairness. Let them feel seen first. ✅ Ask, don’t tell – ELIZA worked by asking questions. So can we. "What kind of world do you want your kids to grow up in?" opens more hearts than “The IPCC says…” ✅ Customise the message – Just as AI tailors content, we need to meet people where they are. Talking savings to small business owners, clean air to parents, and local nature to hikers. ✅ Use social proof – Show what others like them are doing. People follow their peers, not reports. ✅ Create safe conversation spaces – Online echo chambers worsen division. We need real life, empathetic, in person dialogue in homes, clubs, places of worship, gyms, allotments. 📣 That’s exactly what my coaching and Carbon Literacy work is all about – helping people and organisations move from overwhelm or resistance to action and connection, through tools, conversations, and mindset shifts that really work. If you’re working on sustainability, running community initiatives, or feeling stuck on how to have better conversations about the climate crisis I’d love to help. Drop me a message or check out my upcoming courses and coaching options on my website (link in profile) #ClimateCommunication #ELIZA #Sustainability #Coaching #CarbonLiteracy #EmotionalIntelligence #ValuesBasedLeadership #CommunityEngagement #BehaviourChange

"Don’t fight hate with hate" for sustainability professionals. In our work, we often encounter resistance, skepticism, indifference, even hostility. It is easy to respond with frustration, to meet sharp words with sharper ones. But hate cannot dissolve hate. Only understanding can do that. When someone dismisses climate action or scoffs at sustainability, they are not just rejecting facts, they are expressing fear. Fear of change, fear of loss, fear of a world shifting beneath their feet. Meet that fear with patience, not judgment. A gentle conversation plants seeds where confrontation builds walls. Sustainability is not a battle to be won with force, but a path to be walked with others. When we respond to hostility with compassion, we do not weaken our message. We make it heard. Anger may feel righteous, but it rarely opens doors. Kindness does. So the next time you face resistance, pause. Breathe. Remember that transformation begins not with winning arguments, but with softening hearts, including our own. The world changes one mindful step at a time.

At its core, climate change isn’t just a scientific issue—it’s a deeply personal one. It challenges people’s way of life, their identity, and their sense of security. That’s why climate conversations often trigger one of two responses: 🔹 Overwhelm – People feel paralyzed by the enormity of the crisis, spinning in anxiety and despair. 🔹 Shutting Down – People disengage, dismiss, or resist because the problem feels too big or threatening. The key to effective communicating about climate? Emotional awareness - both yours and the person you are talking to. Here are some things to think about when having a conversation about climate with someone: ✅ Know where they are. Are they overwhelmed? Help them find tangible actions and agency. Are they shutting down? Ask questions, understand their perspective, and find common ground. ✅ Know where you are. If you’re stuck in frustration or urgency, it can make engagement harder. Self-awareness helps you communicate more effectively. ✅ Listen before you lecture. The goal isn’t just to provide information—it’s to create a space where people feel heard and open to change. Climate literacy isn’t just about facts—it’s about understanding emotions, meeting people where they are, and moving the conversation forward.

If we keep framing sustainability as “the right thing to do,” we’ll keep losing the conversation. When I met William McDonough, the renowned architect and pioneer of the circular economy, a few years ago in Saudi, he told me something that has stayed with me ever since: “When we talk about saving the planet, we turn it into an ethical issue. But we won’t solve problems if they’re seen only as ethical. Don’t make it an ethical problem — make it a quality of life problem.” That shifted everything for me. Because when we frame sustainability only as morality — net zero, saving the planet, doing the “right” thing — it polarizes people. It becomes about guilt, sacrifice, or blame. But when we frame it as quality of life, people lean in. In our region, water scarcity isn’t abstract, it’s about health, food, and dignity. Climate change isn’t distant, it’s hotter summers and more extreme weather, already here. This is why jargon may work between professionals, but it doesn’t empower society at large. Real empowerment comes when people see that sustainability is not a burden but an invitation into a better way of living. 👉 How do you think we can reframe the conversation so people feel invited, not judged? #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #ClimateAction #MENAImpact