Communicating Climate:
a comparison of climate action in Freiburg, Philadelphia, and the Bi-Co
Freiburg, Germany is famous for being a "Green City"
Freiburg is a stunning example of sustainable urban development. At the heart of the Energiewende, Germany's famed energy transition, Freiburg is home to solar panels, a walkable downtown and an engaged community. Community participation and grassroots action have been an integral part of the Energiewende. As part of our 360 fieldwork, we interviewed experts in Germany and Philadelphia about the communication strategies that inspire communities to mobilize. We learned about strategies for community engagement such as infrastructure that supports pedestrians and cyclists, community buy-in for energy production, and the importance of the Wyhl anti-nuclear protests.
Communities can produce their own energy and join co-ops to fund projects like wind turbines. Ursula Sladek, a 2011 Goldman Prize winner, helped her community reclaim the grid and invest in renewable energy.
Wiwilíbrücke counts the number of cyclists that commute every day. Watching the number increase is a powerful way to show individuals how they can make a difference in reducing carbon emissions.
This "stone of shame" commemorates the anti-nuclear protests at Wyhl.
The caption reads: Remembrance for Posterity These people committed themselves unscrupulously to nuclear power
Closer to home, Philadelphia looks to a sustainable future
Philadelphia has recently developed an ambitious stormwater management plan called Green City, Clean Waters. While visiting sites like the Friends Center and Rail Park, we learned about the ways Philadelphia is developing green stormwater infrastructure, repurposing abandoned spaces, and fostering a culture of sustainability. Like in Freiburg, we wanted to see the ways Philadelphia brands itself as a "Green City."
The problem
Visionaries around the world are developing technological and infrastructural solutions to the most pressing climate issues. And yet, implementing solutions is an incessant challenge. Many cities feel that they simply do not have the resources or support to make dramatic changes.
Meanwhile, climate action is becoming more urgent. Just this year, we've encountered devastating wildfires, chronic inundation, and intensified storms. Americans do care; the majority of Americans believe in global warming and are concerned about the severity of the issue. The communication strategies discussed here can help mobilize a population that is "Alarmed," "Concerned," and "Cautious" to take action such as supporting the growth of renewable energy.
Our focus
Through this website, we (the Climate Change 360 group of spring 2020) would like to share with you what we've learned about communicating the climate crisis. These communication strategies can be used by you individually or by your organization/institution to foster a culture of sustainability. We have included two main categories: the key communication approaches we have encountered and the ways we believe they can be relevant to the Bi-Co.
Key Communication Approaches
As we interviewed various communication experts on the strategies they use, common themes began to emerge. We decided to use what we learned to break down the key approaches into four categories: Language Use, Government Communication, Media Communication, and Comparing Messaging.
We begin with framing the importance of language before tackling more specific levels of communication, and end with a reflective comparison in terms of success. These categories, especially the specific discussion on Government and Media, form our understanding of formal and informal groundworks for how people and organizations communicate on stabilizing climate change. It is a combination of what we've learned, observed, and experienced, and hope that the strategies will feel familiar to readers.
Translating Communication Strategies to the Bi-Co
Moving forward, it is important to reflect on what progress has already been made in our communities and what can still be done. Our current efforts provide a strong base, whereas our lessons from Freiburg give us direction on where the path towards sustainability in the bi-college area and Philadelphia in general can lead. At its core, proper communication appears to be a key feature in this transition.
In our Campus Efforts page, we break down how Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges has made strides towards a green future. In the Proposed Strategies page, a general overview is given of how Freiburg's technique can support Philadelphia and the bi-college area's future plans, with a few explicit solutions that combine communication and sustainability.
Thank you for checking out our site!
-- The 360 Communication team of Amelia, Zoe, Emily, Menna, Julia, Carolina, and Sam.