Communication about climate change should be inspiring
There is a vast, growing amount of experience and specialist knowledge, of reports and data on climate change. But many actions are not easily understandable and not as inspiring as they could be.
I would like to propose that we continuously monitor actions and progress in a standardised way to combat climate change. There are so many good ideas! But there is no single place where people could get an quick overview and positive inspiration.
Dealing with the climate change is a global movement with local actors.
Many different people are facing this challenge with the same goal in mind all over the world: organisations, governmental and nongovernmental actors, motivated and committed individuals – all in their own way.
Only the very idea of being part of this movement is exciting and extremely encouraging!
Ideas can inspire people and fill them with the urge to do something that can take us forward.
We should not scare people with too much data, which often creates just an fatalistic attitude. Ideas and actions have to be provided in a simple, clear language that is easily understandable by all citizens.
A pitch is usually the purposive delivering of a business plan, to address potential investors. The ‚technology‘ behind this presentation is simple and typically structured. I want to use these existing forms and rhetoric methods to summarise the discussed ideas and actions of the United Nations Climate Change conferences for a broader audience.
Easy structures for complex contents
- What is the root of the problem? How big is the impact (numbers, data, and source) (~250 chars)
- Why is the problem not solved yet? (~250 chars)
- Organisational profile, working area, and methods. (~150 chars)
- Solutions and what is the value of the actions and ideas (up to 600 chars)
- Results and achievements of already implemented actions or projects. (up to 250 chars)
- Discussion and positive outlook. (~150 chars)
Following this structure selected actions and events of the United Nations Climate Change conferences could be summarised and provided as simple posts on one centralised point.
We don’t need more politically flavoured explanations, generalisations and depressing discussions of major global issues. But for example recorded meetings, data and documents from the exhibitors and organisers can be used. Additionally one related link and a few meaningful photos should be sufficient.
The selection of provided ideas has to focus on very specific ideas only. Ideas could be selected according to the SMART criteria:
Specific simple, sensible, significant.
Measurable meaningful, motivating.
Achievable agreed, attainable.
Relevant reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based.
Time-bound, time-based, time-limited, time-sensitive.
Global problems need local actions and the knowledge to achieve this is obtained directly onsite. We don’t need a top-down communication but should allow different people to bring their own approach. Local communities generate their own knowledge, volunteers share their experience… This knowledge is usually very specific but could be adaptable or at least inspiring. Concrete actions are motivating and the experience helps us to find new ways of doing things.
