What is an Effective Climate Change Story?

Citizens Climate Radio Climate Change Podcast

In this episode of Citizens Climate Radio we will consider stories that focus on the impacts of climate change. These include incidents of extreme weather, and stories of changes you have witnessed over time and the ways these changes affect you and everything and everyone you love. Plus you will hear one climate solution story from the future. To see full show notes & links, visit: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/blog/podcast/episode-79-how-to-tell-a-climate-change-solution-story/ Most importantly, you will hear an example of “the climate story pivot.” The pivot happens when you jump off of your story into the climate solution you are proposing. For full notes visit: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/blog/category/podcast/ What you will learn in this episode ---We can tell effective climate stories. ---The most common story is the climate change impact story--A story that reveals the dangers of climate change induced extreme weather and other impacts on our lives and the world. ---Make your story compelling with specific details and emotions. ---Once you tell your story, switch to the climate change pivot. This is when you connect your story to the climate work you are doing or a particular solution you are pursuing. ---Finally, give them something to do. Suggest a meaningful and achievable next step. An extreme weather story by Dr. Natasha DeJarnett Dr. DeJarnett is an assistant professor in the Christina Lee Brown Environment Institute at the University of Louisville Division of Environmental Medicine. She researches the health impacts of extreme heat exposure and environmental health disparities. If you ever heard one of Dr. DeJarnett’s presentations, you know she is excellent at sharing data and highlighting the many ways we can protect our loved ones and communities. She is also a powerful storyteller. For this episode she tells us a dramatic story from when she was 12 years old. Poems about parenting and climate change by Lilace Mellin Guinard. As a parent, Lilace Mellin Guinard weaves in emotions that may be familiar to some listeners. For The BTS Center in Portland, Maine, Lilace led a poetry workshop for climate change leaders. She recorded readings of her poetry, and Citizens Climate Radio host Peterson Toscano added music and sound effects. You will hear Lilace read two poems, “After the Magi Depart'' and “Evergreen.” For people in North America who enjoy winter weather and feel a pang about the warming of warming winters, Lilace expresses both grief and determination. A story from the future by Allison Whitaker Peterson collaborated with Allison Whitaker, one of the facilitators of the Intro to Climate Fiction Workshop offered by With Many Roots. She wrote a story immersed in a solution. Together they created a radio drama version of her story Forest at the End of the Lane. Next month we will do a deep dive into another type of climate change story--a story that reveals the impacts of climate change solutions. Do you want to learn more about climate storytelling and get some experience in a group? Resilience Corner Tamara Staton is the Education and Resilience Coordinator for Citizens Climate Education, and in this installment of the Resilience Corner she has us accepting what we need. There are two aspects of acceptance that can help us deepen our resilience. 1. involves making space and allowing for our thoughts, feelings and needs. Because, when it comes right down to it, what you need is what you need. 2. involves a willingness to see our surroundings and circumstances exactly as they are in the moment. Acceptance in this way, free from judgment, allows us to focus our energy and attention on what matters most Next month Tamara will take a closer look at asking for help. Get more tips and resources by visiting The Resiliency Hub.