In this section
- Understand a little bit about the Climate Emergency
- Understand the role of councils in the Climate Emergency campaign
- Check to see if anyone is already doing anything
- Getting ready to talk about the Climate Emergency to council
- Communicating the Climate Emergency and linking it to people's values
1. Understand a little bit about the Climate Emergency
You won’t need a degree in climatology but you will need to accept that the global warming impacts we see today are already unacceptable and that we need to immediately start reversing global warming before things get much worse.
Take a look at our "Climate Emergency" page for a basic explanation of the climate emergency.
The ulimate goal of the campaign is to get governments around the world to act at emergency speed to reverse global warming as soon as possible. The sooner this occurs the less people and ecosystems will die and the greater likelihood we have averting a major catastrophe or run away climate change leading to hot house earth.
You won’t need a degree in climatology but you will need to accept that the global warming impacts we see today are already unacceptable and that we need to immediately start reversing global warming before things get much worse.
Take a look at our "Climate Emergency" page for a basic explanation of the climate emergency.
The ulimate goal of the campaign is to get governments around the world to act at emergency speed to reverse global warming as soon as possible. The sooner this occurs the less people and ecosystems will die and the greater likelihood we have averting a major catastrophe or run away climate change leading to hot house earth.
2. Understand the role of councils in the Climate Emergency campaign
A climate emergency response by councils is a leadership position taken by a council in response to the climate emergency where it seeks to inspire. educate, and reduce emissions and warming impacts to maximum effect within the municipality subject the resource limitations of the council.
Here is a the discussion we ran at the 2018 Sustainable Living Festival with two Darebin Councillors, Trent McCarthy and Susan Rennie, talking about their experience of setting up a climate emergency response in Darebin.
For a more in depth look at the meta strategy and councils' role please read Philip Sutton's RSTI paper entitled "Local-first implementation: Why a strong climate declaration is needed – at the local government level – and what it can do" by clicking this link.
Take a look at our "A Guide for Councils" page, Here we unpack ways councils can go about declaring a Climate Emergency and how they contribute to the Climate Emergency campaign.
Step two is very important. It will help ensure you can start your council heading in the right direction. If this bit goes wrong you may have to start the campaign again.
If your are confused or need clarification please contact us and we can help on any issue. If you decide to run a local campaign in your area we are happy to send a team to run a briefing session for you individually, your team or present at your first public meeting.
A climate emergency response by councils is a leadership position taken by a council in response to the climate emergency where it seeks to inspire. educate, and reduce emissions and warming impacts to maximum effect within the municipality subject the resource limitations of the council.
Here is a the discussion we ran at the 2018 Sustainable Living Festival with two Darebin Councillors, Trent McCarthy and Susan Rennie, talking about their experience of setting up a climate emergency response in Darebin.
For a more in depth look at the meta strategy and councils' role please read Philip Sutton's RSTI paper entitled "Local-first implementation: Why a strong climate declaration is needed – at the local government level – and what it can do" by clicking this link.
Take a look at our "A Guide for Councils" page, Here we unpack ways councils can go about declaring a Climate Emergency and how they contribute to the Climate Emergency campaign.
Step two is very important. It will help ensure you can start your council heading in the right direction. If this bit goes wrong you may have to start the campaign again.
If your are confused or need clarification please contact us and we can help on any issue. If you decide to run a local campaign in your area we are happy to send a team to run a briefing session for you individually, your team or present at your first public meeting.
3. Check to see if anyone is already doing anything
You might already have local climate action groups in your area. If you do, see if they are working on a Climate Emergency Declaration campaign focused on local councils. They may have done some of the work already.
If not, ask them if they are interested in supporting your campaign to get the local council to declare a climate emergency and adopt a climate emergency response.
Not all local climate groups will be interested in helping, though you might find some members willing to help.
If you local climate action group is not interested set up your own group. You can call yourself XYZ CACE using the name of local council as XYZ.
You might already have local climate action groups in your area. If you do, see if they are working on a Climate Emergency Declaration campaign focused on local councils. They may have done some of the work already.
If not, ask them if they are interested in supporting your campaign to get the local council to declare a climate emergency and adopt a climate emergency response.
Not all local climate groups will be interested in helping, though you might find some members willing to help.
If you local climate action group is not interested set up your own group. You can call yourself XYZ CACE using the name of local council as XYZ.
4. Getting ready to talk about the Climate Emergency to council
Like riding a bike, selling an idea or convincing someone to do something is a skill. Some people naturally develop this skill while other people train to become good at it. Google "sales conversations" or "getting better sales" to give you some basic ideas and techniques.
Basic things you will need to do include:
Like riding a bike, selling an idea or convincing someone to do something is a skill. Some people naturally develop this skill while other people train to become good at it. Google "sales conversations" or "getting better sales" to give you some basic ideas and techniques.
Basic things you will need to do include:
- building rapport
- framing the messages in the frames* and value of the audience
- giving them an understanding of both the threat and solutions
- motivating them to act
5. Communicating the Climate Emergency and linking it to people's values.
You may need some specific help to communicate the Climate Emergency. If you only have a little time, watch Daniel Voronoff's and Jane Morton's videos (see below). Otherwise work through the material as presented. Alternatively chat to us and we can visit you talk through the issue over the phone.
5.1 Talking to different people and listening to what they value
Start with this video from George Marshall. He discusses communicating with people who don't believe in global warming and don't agree with you. He is talking about understanding the person you are trying to communicate with by listening to their values and understanding their frames of thinking (see below) and narratives. (18 minutes - April 2017).
5.2 How people think and how this affects their value systems
Following on from George's talk you should realise some of your values and frames of thinking are not necessarily those of the person you are communicating with and may be the opposite in some ways. A person's highest truth is doing what is "right" for them - this can be very different between people and different groups of people.
People's back ground, community, family, life experiences, religion, education etc all effect what they value and how they understand the world.
For example the table in this image outlines how people of different levels of wealth tend to see or frame the world (source "A Framework for Understanding Poverty" by Ruby Payne. link to her blog)
You may need some specific help to communicate the Climate Emergency. If you only have a little time, watch Daniel Voronoff's and Jane Morton's videos (see below). Otherwise work through the material as presented. Alternatively chat to us and we can visit you talk through the issue over the phone.
5.1 Talking to different people and listening to what they value
Start with this video from George Marshall. He discusses communicating with people who don't believe in global warming and don't agree with you. He is talking about understanding the person you are trying to communicate with by listening to their values and understanding their frames of thinking (see below) and narratives. (18 minutes - April 2017).
5.2 How people think and how this affects their value systems
Following on from George's talk you should realise some of your values and frames of thinking are not necessarily those of the person you are communicating with and may be the opposite in some ways. A person's highest truth is doing what is "right" for them - this can be very different between people and different groups of people.
People's back ground, community, family, life experiences, religion, education etc all effect what they value and how they understand the world.
For example the table in this image outlines how people of different levels of wealth tend to see or frame the world (source "A Framework for Understanding Poverty" by Ruby Payne. link to her blog)
George Lakoff has written material on the issue of values and frames of thinking, focusing on the difference between the "strict father model" and the "nurturant parent model" which largely divide the left and right of politics in America. You can read his book "Don't think of an elephant" or watch his video below to develop an understanding of communicating using people's different frames. Australia frames are similar but also different to the American model so you will need to adjust some of the detail.
- Lakoff material discussed in reference to Trump - includes importance of repetition; elements of conservatives who have some nurturant qualities; shifting language i.e. "a protection or resource" vs a "a restriction or impediment"; don't use negation i.e. Nixon's "I am not a crook" vs a positive "I am innocent"; how thought is in fact embodied.
- Extended presentation by Lakoff on his work - rationalism vs identity, how the right wins the political debates in the US.
5.3 Effective Climate Emergency communication
Daniel Voronoff's youtube video looks at these issues in more detail, unpacking communicating using people's values and frames of understanding as well as tackling the very important issue of effectively communicating the "threat" of global warming and motivating people to act. The video is 42 minutes long but really is a must see if you are going to work effectively on the Climate Emergency. Please note Daniel uses the word "Climate Change" which was dominant at the time, rather than words we prefer to use, like "Climate Emergency" or "Global Warming".
I have broken his video down so you can view particular sections. Simply click on the link at the front or manually go the the time suggested once you have the video opened on youtube.
Daniel Voronoff's youtube video looks at these issues in more detail, unpacking communicating using people's values and frames of understanding as well as tackling the very important issue of effectively communicating the "threat" of global warming and motivating people to act. The video is 42 minutes long but really is a must see if you are going to work effectively on the Climate Emergency. Please note Daniel uses the word "Climate Change" which was dominant at the time, rather than words we prefer to use, like "Climate Emergency" or "Global Warming".
I have broken his video down so you can view particular sections. Simply click on the link at the front or manually go the the time suggested once you have the video opened on youtube.
- Audience - who are we talking to across the political spectrum - 2.10
- Trusted figures - a guide to who people see as trusted figures on the issue of global warming - 5.00
- Frames - how people view the world and the biology of understanding - 6.30
- Rational Actor Frame - the frame used to justify economic rationalism, why it is wrong, and how it is used to stop action on global warming - 14.20
- Environmental Threat Frame - why we need to bring our discussion to the personal threat message - 22.10
- Confirmation Bias - people seek out facts and ignore others to support their world view, and why using some frames won't work well with some groups - 24.00
- Fear and Threat messaging - how to communicate the threat of global warming and get people to act - 25.30
- Categories - bringing the global warming impacts into a personal harm frame - 32.20
- Empathy - effective communication (but you will need to work with their values) - 36.00
- Bringing "people" into the Climate Emergency messaging - discusses a range of ways to re-frame the message around people (again remember to focus on the "people" they value rather than who you value) - 38.00
5.4 Busting the myths about Climate Emergency communication
Jane Morton's youtube video seek to dispel the myth about communicating the climate emergency and unpacks lots of ways to motivate people to act.
Jane has produced a comprehensive booklet explaining key concepts of climate emergency communication here climateemergencydeclaration.org/climatemessaging/
Jane Morton's youtube video seek to dispel the myth about communicating the climate emergency and unpacks lots of ways to motivate people to act.
Jane has produced a comprehensive booklet explaining key concepts of climate emergency communication here climateemergencydeclaration.org/climatemessaging/
Don't feel you have to work through all this material but spending an evening or two going through it prior to your meeting with a Councillor will likely improve your chances of success and successful discussions with people is critical to winning our campaigns.
