How to Talk about Climate Change in a Way That Makes a Difference

Huntley (The Full Catastrophe), lecturer at the School of Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales, eschews data in this accessible primer on emotions and the environmental protection movement. Rather than offer readers statistics “about CO2 levels and temperature rises, shrinking ice sheets and acidification of the oceans,” Huntley draws on psychology and sociology to examine how guilt, fear, and anger can be harnessed to help activists speak more persuasively. One chapter, “Green Girls or What We Can Learn from Teens on Talking about Climate,” highlights the influence of youth leaders such as Daisy Jeffrey and Greta Thunberg, while “Hope or How to Get Out of Bed in the Morning” distinguishes between “helpful” hope and “the kinds of hope [that] are, in truth, denial in disguise.” “Loss or Bury Me in a Carbon Sink” examines the eco-burial movement, which involves “preparation of the dead in environmentally friendly materials,” and touts the importance of including faith-based communities in the larger movement. Balancing personal anecdotes and a survey of environmental activism at large, Huntley tackles big ideas and tough emotions with sympathy and curiosity. This fresh approach to a familiar topic is a welcome contribution to the climate conversation. (Mar.)