Let’s Change The Way We Talk About Climate Change | Jes Thompson | TEDxNMU

Jessica Thompson is an associate professor in the Communication and Performance Studies department at NMU. She teaches courses in public relations, new media and environmental communication. Her research is focused on collaboration, climate change and public lands. Over the past decade she has participated in dozens of projects across the Western US, Mexico, India, Singapore and Mongolia. The impacts of a rapidly changing climate are everywhere, yet we haven’t figured out how to talk about climate change with our friends and neighbors. Since the 1980s public conversations about climate change have been dominated by the language of science and politics. Our own fears of scientific inaccuracy and uncertainty – or political disagreement – have censored us from talking about how to live on a changing planet. This talk presents a new frame for conversations about climate change – place – places that matter. We can change the conversation about climate change by connecting the issues to the places and people we love.

[bugymellon]

Ms. Thompson is so charismatic! Thank you for a good talk.

[reaality]

Well said. Now, let's change to raw temperature data not "adjusted" by climate alarmists, and stop including solar forcing to climate computer models as man-made pressures. Let's also stop calling climate science 'settled' or 'unquestionable' for as long as the very definition of the word 'science' involves asking questions.

[reaality]

Let's change the way we talk about climate change by not always answering the problem with totalitarianism.

[kimlibera]

She already has evidenced her bias in stead of just trying to tell both sides it's ok to have an opinion or discussion.

[reginafeher]

This presentation is so important, and extremely helpful! Yes, I completely agree: ordinary citizens do not understand complicated reports, they understand what they can experience. We have to change the language we use when we are talikng about climate change.

[jeffgold]

aerosols, heat islands, land use, population growth : many human activities effect climate . co2 certainly demonstrably greens the planet . significantly warms the planet ? maybe, maybe not .

[andrewthomas]

Perhaps we need to change the way we think about climate change. That is, maybe it's not something human's need to solve, but rather it's something that will solve us. 🙂

[burninghard]

Talking to a climate change deniar is in most cases like talking to a flat earther. It really does not matter too much what you say. If someone does not want to believe in something there is almost no way you can convince that person. Unfortunately different sources have plowed those false beliefs so deep into the mind of many people that it is almost impossible to get them out of there.

[phil]

Thank you Jes, for your wisdom, your passion and advice. If every person takes small positive steps to conserve and reduce our use of resources, it can lead to a giant change in how society, as a whole, views and approaches this potential cataclysmic catastrophe. Instead of carbon dioxide molecules radiating heat for eons of time, let each of us become points of concern, radiating knowledge and serving as examples for others to model.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." (Mahatma Gandhi)

[ritamallett]

Would you come to North Carolina and talk to some of the climate change deniers we have in this state? I would love to help you!

[ChipmunkRapidsMadMan]

The narrative has changed constantly.

It has to for the simple reason that the date of terminus has to change so that people won’t get wise to the game.

[notanomad]

Lead by example or people will simply ignore you. Now having said that, who had more credibility President Carter when dealing with the energy crisis or President Obama's and climate change? Who lead by example and who didn't?

[jamesruscheinski]

Would help to make climate change somehow sound more manageable?

[amosjsoma]

It's hard to have a conversation on climate change when scientists never explain why the earth started to warm after the last ice age and the one before that and the one before that, all without the help of man. When they fail to this it's hard to understanding why we're taking the blame for the warming that has been occurring since the last ice age. We know that the earth was warmer at the peak of last warming periods than it is today and that the sea level was 25' higher at the peak of the last warming period. That happened without the aid of man. What we should be doing is preparing for the inevitable sea level rise that's coming and stop selling snake oil about man being able to stop it.

[bigfoot]

Stumbled on this late. That doesn’t change the fact that global warming, er climate change, er climate catastrophe is politics. Not science.

If you change the name of your science fair project three times you do get a failing grade.

[DidivsIvlianvs]

Okay, I'll lead with solutions: 1) Live on half of what you do now, 2) Vote for government to tax and ration resources, 3) Run America and Europe into the ground while China and maybe Africa catches up, 4) Socialism, like 97% of scientists have always wanted for every problem, from nuclear weapons to overpopulation and the "energy crisis". Yes, leading with solutions will influence people. Europeans love socialism because they like taking orders and just because average Americans don't.

[mikfin]

How did she get invited to speak..this entire video is regurgitating talking points

[ChipmunkRapidsMadMan]

The 2009 drought she talked about, where the pine beetles blighted the trees?

That infestation could have been prevented but for the actions of environmentalists like her that need a sad picture to tug at your heartstrings with.

Thinning trees in some areas to act as a break would have insured that the blight was contained and the trees left standing had sufficient water to fend off the onslaught of the beetles.

Cool story, now go lay down.

[ChiefCabioch]

How about no talking about it, since you or anyone can't stop it,

[mikechristensen]

Scientist tell me how much you get from government grants and I’ll tell you how much I believe you