Talk…

It’s Good to Talk!

Politicians hardly ever talk about climate change. Why?

They say: “Well, it doesn’t come up on the doorstep”. In other words, we’re not talking about it and if we don’t, they won’t. This isn’t right, but it suits them and is probably true. So, what’s going on? Why the silence?

Surveys show that at least three out of every four of us are worried about climate change. They also show that almost everyone who’s worried about climate change thinks we’re not doing enough to address it.

Most of us think these things.

In other words, people who worry about climate change are not weird or unusual. We’re perfectly regular citizens. In fact, we’re a very large majority. And we’re from every political party or none – Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem, Green, floating, whatever.

We have every reason to worry, and we don’t believe enough is being done.

But we’re still not talking about it! We never mention it when we’re at home, at work, or out and about. We don’t talk about it anywhere. Neither do our politicians. It’s weird!

Why don’t we talk? Climate change is certainly important enough. It’s real enough and it’s obvious enough. It’s scary enough, too. So why aren’t we talking about it everywhere and to everyone? Why the almost universal silence?

Is it because we don’t want to seem odd, or extreme? Why can’t we see that almost everyone is worried now? That we have every right to be worried, and most regular people are? Almost everyone is exactly as worried as we are – but they’re worrying silently, just like us. We’re all staying schtum! It’s like we’re in a conspiracy of silence.

This won’t make the world a better place, will it?

What’s to be done?

The fact that climate change is real, man-made, dangerous, and happening right now is hidden. It’s hidden in our silence. This has to stop! We need to talk about it everywhere and often. We need our politicians to hear it, but not only politicians. We - the silent majority – must be silent no more. We need everyone to know about climate change but also to know that we worry about it. That we are entitled to worry about it. And that we are not alone. That we’re all worried and with very good reason. That ‘climate anxiety’ makes sense, and most people feel it.

In other words, we need to normalise climate understanding and climate anxiety.

It’s normal to worry about climate and it’s good to talk! It’s essential to talk!

Once we can all see that we’re part of a large and growing majority, the politicians will take note. While we’re silent, they won’t. That means it’s up to us. It’s our duty to the future.

So, let’s talk! Talk to everyone, all the time. They’re just as worried as we are!