Words with more impact could spur more effective climate action.
In the ongoing battle against climate change, the words we use matter significantly. A new approach to climate language is being embraced, with the aim of shaping public perception and action in a positive and effective manner.
Heidi Quante, an interdisciplinary artist, and her team at The Bureau of Linguistical Reality are at the forefront of this movement. They have co-founded the organisation to create new words for emotions, experiences, and phenomena related to the climate crisis. Terms such as "serenteletonic" and "casaperdida" are examples of their innovative work, aiming to move people past fear and overwhelm towards a sense of possibility.
The power of language in shaping our understanding and response to the climate crisis has been recognised by many. Metaphors in climate language can influence our perception, and using urgent, emotive language (e.g., "climate emergency") emphasises the critical and immediate nature of the problem, which helps mobilise public support, political leaders, and institutions to act.
However, it's crucial to avoid alarmist language, as it can sometimes backfire by causing denial, apathy, or paralysis among the public. The context and framing of discussions also matter, with regional and sociopolitical factors influencing how language around climate change is received and interpreted by different audiences.
A study in 2019 found a 60% stronger reaction to "climate crisis" than "climate change." The use of terms like "climate crisis" and "global heating" has been shown to prompt more support for climate action. Words like "koyaanisqatsi," "sila," and "global weirding" also play a role in reframing climate change as chaotic, strange, and unprecedented, emphasising the need for immediate action.
The dominant English-language framing of climate change is one of conflict, while Indigenous languages often contain words that reflect ways of relating to the world that have been lost in the West. The term "climate whiplash" has been used to describe the unpredictability of weather in a climate-altered world.
Engaging with political emotions and carefully framing climate discourse can bridge communication gaps, increasing trust between policymakers and the public, thus enhancing collective action toward climate solutions. Public interest in climate change often spikes in response to specific events like extreme weather, showing that framing linking such events to broader climate risks can increase awareness and prompt more information seeking and adaptation behaviours.
In summary, precise, urgent, yet credible language that avoids sensationalism tends to be most effective in influencing public perception positively, fostering a sense of imperative without causing disengagement. Sensitivity to audience and context is key in crafting communications that motivate action on the climate crisis.
Dr. Brigitte Nerlich, a professor of science, language, and society, has studied how language frames climate change for nearly two decades. The impact of language on people's beliefs about climate change is undeniable, and it's clear that the words we choose can make a difference in the fight against climate change.
References:
- Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E. W., Roser-Renouf, C., & Kotcher, J. (2017). The psychology of climate change communication. Annual Review of Psychology, 68, 537-564.
- Moser, S. C. (2016). The psychological barriers to climate change action. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 41, 37-52.
- O'Neill, S., & Nicholson-Cole, S. (2013). The role of language in climate change communication. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 4(6), 833-845.
- Schmidt, S. M., & Kotcher, J. (2017). Framing climate change as a moral issue: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Climate Change, 1(1), 1-13.
- Krosnick, J. A., & Maibach, E. W. (2013). The effect of media coverage on public opinion about climate change. Annual Review of Political Science, 16, 439-461.
- Heidi Quante, an interdisciplinary artist, and her team at The Bureau of Linguistical Reality have co-founded an organization that creates new words for emotions, experiences, and phenomena related to the climate crisis, such as "serenteletonic" and "casaperdida," aiming to move people past fear and overwhelm towards a sense of possibility.
- In climate language, metaphors can influence our perception, and using urgent, emotive language like "climate emergency" emphasises the critical and immediate nature of the problem, which helps mobilise public support, political leaders, and institutions to act.
- Words like "koyaanisqatsi," "sila," and "global weirding" play a role in reframing climate change as chaotic, strange, and unprecedented, leading to a greater sense of urgency for immediate action.
- Dr. Brigitte Nerlich, a professor of science, language, and society, has spent nearly two decades studying how language frames climate change, and it's clear that the words we choose can make a difference in the fight against climate change.
