Citizens' Climate Lobby

Recently some climate communication experts have been freaking out about freaking out. In reaction to a New York Magazine article, The Uninhabitable World, by David Wallace-Wells, a big debate is raging about fear tactics when talking about climate change. We look at the different sides and some of the social science around fear and rhetoric. Joining host, Peterson Toscano, is Halldor Björnsson, the Head of the Atmospheric Research Group at Veðurstofa Iceland also known as the Icelandic Met Office. Also, we hear from Dr. Kristian Bjørkdahl who has earned a PhD in rhetoric and continues his studies at the Centre for Development and the Environment, at the University of Oslo. Oh, and Aristotle makes a surprise cameo appearance. 

Art House

Sung to the tune of Be Our Guests, the Beauty and the Beast classic song, Jason Zeikowitz, a master of sustainability at Arizona State University, performs a showstopper about Scientists. Check out his videos on YouTube  and follow Science Sigh on Twitter 

Puzzler

Last month's question was about food. What is a food you love that is threatened by Climate Change? We hear from three different Citizens' Climate Lobby volunteers who attended the International Conference in Washington, DC.

New Puzzler Question

Using metaphor to talk about climate change is very important. We can relate the effects of climate change or our response to it to our own lives in many ways, including our childhood experiences. So here is your puzzler question: Fill in the blank. When I think about climate change, it reminds me of when ___________  Think back to your childhood. The memory may have absolutely nothing to do with climate change. It might be aobut a loss you experienced, a sudden change in your life, or a revelation about your role in the world. When I think about climate change, it reminds me of when _________. Fill in the  blank and explain.  

 Send Peterson your answers. Leave your name, contact info, and where you are from.

Get back to him by August, 15, 2017. You can also email your answers to radio @ citizensclimate.org that’s radio @ citizensclimate.orgText Peterson or leave a voicemail of 3 minutes or less at 570.483.8194. (+1 if calling from outside the USA.)

Dig Deeper

• The Uninhabitable Earth, by David Wallace Wells
• Why Scare Tactics Won’t Stop Climate Change by Rachel Becker 
• Did that New York Magazine Article Freak You Out? Good by David Roberts
• Aristotles’ Rhetoric: Book II Chapter 5 Fear
• Flateyri Avalanche Documentary
• What is an Anti-Avalanche Barrier? Veðurstofa Iceland
• Iceland’s Avalanche Monitoring System
• When did the USA join the World War II War?  

You can hear Citizens’ Climate Radio on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Podbean, and now on Northern Spirit Radio. Also, feel free to connect with other listeners, suggest program ideas, and respond to programs in the Citizens’ Climate Radio Facebook group or on Twitter at @CitizensCRadio.

Audio Only: We've all heard that global warming can increase the frequency and severity of weather events. But how, and why, and to what extent?

Join Dr. Jennifer Francis, a world-renowned climate researcher at Rutgers University and Bob Lindmeier, the chief meteorologist at ABC affiliate WKOW in Madison, Wisconsin to learn more about how this complexity can be effectively communicated to the general public. Rick Knight, CCL's IL State Coordinator, moderates.

Dr. Francis’ presentation begins at 3:34, and Bob Lindmeier’s at 22:13, open Q&A begins at 36:00.

We've all heard that global warming can increase the frequency and severity of weather events. But how, and why, and to what extent?

Join Dr. Jennifer Francis, a world-renowned climate researcher at Rutgers University and Bob Lindmeier, the chief meteorologist at ABC affiliate WKOW in Madison, Wisconsin to learn more about how this complexity can be effectively communicated to the general public. Rick Knight, CCL's IL State Coordinator, moderates.

Dr. Francis’ presentation begins at 3:34, and Bob Lindmeier’s at 22:13, open Q&A begins at 36:00.

Audio Only: Getting your group to generate letters to the editor (LTE) in your local or regional newspaper is an essential way to build on our momentum and keep generating political will back in district. It's also an effective way to reach a broad audience with our message. 

Join CCL’s Communication Director Steve Valk to get updated on recent media developments and initiatives within CCL as well as the chance to discuss tips and best practices to not only writing effective letters to the editor but also getting them published. Steve will discuss the news hierarchy, the letter to the editor formula, message protocol and etiquette. The webinar will feature some hands-on practice and conclude with what to do when your letter is published and applying the skills learned to actual news stories.

Getting your group to generate letters to the editor (LTE) in your local or regional newspaper is an essential way to build on our momentum and keep generating political will back in district. It's also an effective way to reach a broad audience with our message.

Join CCL’s Communication Director Steve Valk to get updated on recent media developments and initiatives within CCL as well as the chance to discuss tips and best practices to not only writing effective letters to the editor but also getting them published. Steve will discuss the news hierarchy, the letter to the editor formula, message protocol and etiquette. The webinar will feature some hands-on practice and conclude with what to do when your letter is published and applying the skills learned to actual news stories. 

Audio Only: Andrew (Drew) Jones is Co-Founder of Climate Interactive, a top-rated climate change think tank that creates the simulations used in the United Nations negotiations. An expert on international climate and energy issues, his quotes and interactive data stories appear frequently in the New York Times, The Washington Post, and other media.

Jones and his team at CI and MIT Sloan developed “C-ROADS”, the user-friendly climate simulation in use by thousands of climate analysts around the world. He teaches Systems Thinking and Sustainability at MIT and UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Additionally, CCL Founder Marshall Saunders delivered the talk he was scheduled to give at our 8th Annual International Conference.

Jonathan Haidt, a professor in the Business and Society Program at NYU-Stern, is a social psychologist and author of The Righteous Mind and The Happiness Hypothesis. Dr. Haidt discusses how we came to be so politically polarized as a nation and what needs to happen to restore a more cooperative system of governing. “To live virtuously as individuals and as societies, we must understand how our minds are built. We must find ways to overcome our natural self-righteousness. We must respect and even learn from those whose morality differs from our own.”

Though scientific evidence for the existence of global warming continues to mount, in the United States and other countries belief in global warming has stagnated or even decreased in recent years. One possible explanation for this pattern is that information about the potentially dire consequences of global warming threatens deeply held beliefs that the world is just, orderly, and stable. Individuals overcome this threat by denying or discounting the existence of global warming, and this process ultimately results in decreased willingness to counteract climate change. Two experiments provide support for this explanation of the dynamics of belief in global warming, suggesting that less dire messaging could be more effective for promoting public understanding of climate-change research.

Dr. Robb Willer summarizes the study's findings.