Happy International Women’s Day! This week we have articles about the climate gender gap, how cheap coal makes for expensive health problems, updates on the Six Americas and more. It’s mostly opinion and analysis this week as opposed to resources, so I’ve changed the format a bit for this post. Don’t be alarmed – like all good environmental advocates I believe change can be a good thing.
Audience
Your communications should take into account who you’re talking to.
Mary Robinson: Climate Change’s Gender Gap
To celebrate International Women’s Day, check out this interview with Ireland’s first female president. She discusses why climate justice is disproportionately important for women around the world. The Daily Beast.
US Climate Attitudes: Bigger head, smaller tail
SightlineDaily breaks down the newest report from Yale and George Mason on American climate change attitudes (Six Americas). The even shorter version is: good news! They have found that the “Alarmed,” “Concerned,” and “Cautious” audience segments make up 70% of the public. Even better news: the “Alarmed” segment has grown from 10% of Americans to 16%, and the “Dismissive” segment has shrunk from 10% to 8%. Even more break downs and valuable thoughts at SightlineDaily.
Latinos Agree: We Have To Address Climate Change
More on unusually high Latino support for taking action on climate change – which gels with The Ocean Project’s own audience findings – and why Latino communities are disproportionately affected by climate change consequences. ClimateProgress.
Mary Robinson: Climate Change’s Gender Gap
To celebrate International Women’s Day, check out this interview with Ireland’s first female president. She discusses why climate justice is disproportionately important for women around the world. The Daily Beast.
US Climate Attitudes: Bigger head, smaller tail
SightlineDaily breaks down the newest report from Yale and George Mason on American climate change attitudes (Six Americas). The even shorter version is: good news! They have found that the “Alarmed,” “Concerned,” and “Cautious” audience segments make up 70% of the public. Even better news: the “Alarmed” segment has grown from 10% of Americans to 16%, and the “Dismissive” segment has shrunk from 10% to 8%. Even more break downs and valuable thoughts at SightlineDaily.
Latinos Agree: We Have To Address Climate Change
More on unusually high Latino support for taking action on climate change – which gels with The Ocean Project’s own audience findings – and why Latino communities are disproportionately affected by climate change consequences. ClimateProgress.
Angles
When communication on climate and conservation, it can help to have interesting and relatable angles to make the connection. These items may help spark an idea or give you new ways to make the case for conservation.
As the climate warms, skiers can kiss their Aspen goodbye
Climate change spells bad news from the American winter sports industry – one New England study found that only four of the region’s 14 major ski resorts will still be profitable by 2100. So where is the industry outrage? Grist.
Coal burning exacts a lethal price – report
A major reason, maybe THE reason, for the slow switch from fossil fuels to renewables is the pricetag. Fossil fuels like coal are just cheaper… or are they? A report has found that burning coal to produce electricity costs Europeans €42.8 billion, or $55 billion, in health care costs annually. Beyond the monetary affects, can we really justify giving people childhood lung damage, emphysema, aggravated heart disease, and more? TDC.
How extreme weather acts as a catalyst for climate concern
Another example of weird weather bolstering belief in climate change from Wales. A new poll conducted directly after serious flooding found 65% of Welsh citizens agreed that the country was feeling the effects of climate change, highest levels since the mid 2000s. That number was notably higher, 74%, amongst Welsh citizens in an area that was particularly affected by flooding, Ceredigion. The Guardian.
As the climate warms, skiers can kiss their Aspen goodbye
Climate change spells bad news from the American winter sports industry – one New England study found that only four of the region’s 14 major ski resorts will still be profitable by 2100. So where is the industry outrage? Grist.
Coal burning exacts a lethal price – report
A major reason, maybe THE reason, for the slow switch from fossil fuels to renewables is the pricetag. Fossil fuels like coal are just cheaper… or are they? A report has found that burning coal to produce electricity costs Europeans €42.8 billion, or $55 billion, in health care costs annually. Beyond the monetary affects, can we really justify giving people childhood lung damage, emphysema, aggravated heart disease, and more? TDC.
How extreme weather acts as a catalyst for climate concern
Another example of weird weather bolstering belief in climate change from Wales. A new poll conducted directly after serious flooding found 65% of Welsh citizens agreed that the country was feeling the effects of climate change, highest levels since the mid 2000s. That number was notably higher, 74%, amongst Welsh citizens in an area that was particularly affected by flooding, Ceredigion. The Guardian.
Thoughts
Interesting opinions or analyses for communicators.
On the Art of Climate Change Communication
Very interesting piece by scientist M. Sanjayan dispatched from Santiago, Chile. He relates his thoughts on how people communicate about climate consequences, especially when they are dangerously local. Well written and good tips. Orion Magazine.
Tom Friedman on the Hidden Ways Climate Change Contributes to Global Insecurity
ClimateProgress’s summary of Tom Friedman’s piece on a new Center for American Progress report “The Arab Spring and Climate Change.”
From CP: “The report “doesn’t claim that climate change caused the recent wave of Arab revolutions,” Friedman writes. “But, taken together, the essays make a strong case that the interplay between climate change, food prices (particularly wheat) and politics is a hidden stressor that helped to fuel the revolutions and will continue to make consolidating them into stable democracies much more difficult.”
On the Art of Climate Change Communication
Very interesting piece by scientist M. Sanjayan dispatched from Santiago, Chile. He relates his thoughts on how people communicate about climate consequences, especially when they are dangerously local. Well written and good tips. Orion Magazine.
Tom Friedman on the Hidden Ways Climate Change Contributes to Global Insecurity
ClimateProgress’s summary of Tom Friedman’s piece on a new Center for American Progress report “The Arab Spring and Climate Change.”
From CP: “The report “doesn’t claim that climate change caused the recent wave of Arab revolutions,” Friedman writes. “But, taken together, the essays make a strong case that the interplay between climate change, food prices (particularly wheat) and politics is a hidden stressor that helped to fuel the revolutions and will continue to make consolidating them into stable democracies much more difficult.”
