We Need More Conversations About Climate Change With Friends

Yes. Individual responsibility is also essential

Have you ever talked about climate change with your friends? What do you have on the back of your mind when you start this kind of conversation?

My goal of a climate change conversation is to encourage the other person to take action or do more

While governments need to implement more sustainable regulations, and businesses need to change the way they operate, we also need personal change because it’s the sum of all of the individual actions and behaviours that create a culture.

In the fight against climate change, we need a drastic shift in our mindsets and overall community culture: in how we consume, travel, interact with each other…etc.

Individual change is crucial because each of us has decision-making power through voting and purchasing.

It’s not too late, but we need to hurry

I believe that most people come from a good place. But sometimes, we act differently because we don’t necessarily share the same focus, and we have different constraints.

So trying to impose my worldview is not very smart because what I think is the right thing to do might not necessarily seem to be the right thing for you.

My goal is not to win the argument.

My goal is to make sure that progress is being made because sustainability is a journey, not an endpoint.

For example, I believe that we should stop shopping at supermarkets because supermarkets support an industrial food system that contributes heavily to climate change.

However, I wouldn’t start by making a blunt statement like “we should all stop shopping at supermarkets” because many people have limited shopping options.

Instead, I try to understand where the other person is on their sustainability journey regarding food and bring the conversation to a positive place.

In my food shopping example, I begin by attempting to understand their life habits, preferences, and restrictions. This involves discussing what they typically eat, what their main constraints and rituals are, and what adjustments they can realistically make to reduce their carbon footprint.

My climate change conversation icebreaker

When I feel that the person is reluctant to talk about climate change, I usually share some childhood memories.

Exploring childhood memory usually works well to start a conversation on climate change and living more sustainably.

We all have good memories associated with our childhood.

And when we take the time to explore these memories, we will eventually come to the conclusion that the climate has changed, and we will do what we can to help solve the problem.

It leads to a deep and personal conversation which helps us connect and sets a favourable ground for exploring the solutions.

You don’t need to wait for the perfect solution.

There are already lots of solutions out there for small changes or big changes in all areas of your life. You just need to tweak your habits and incorporate the solution that would work for you to live more sustainably.

And along the way, don’t forget to acknowledge and celebrate the small and big wins.

Keep doing more.

Related posts:

Because it was the wrong goal to pursue and because working out doesn’t necessarily result in weight loss, I was never able to keep up with a fitness routine. I always started too hard and gave up…

Severe Weather Alerts have been issued for eastern and southeastern Nebraska, as a cold front and low-pressure system moving through the area, bringing the possibility of severe storms on Wednesday…

Serendipity is regarded as one of the most beautiful words in the English dictionary. It finds meaning in words like fate, and chance with equally beautiful connotations. The Merriam-Webster…