Take Climate Action: Talk about it

According to an article from Yale Climate Connections, more Americans than ever are alarmed about climate change, yet few of us discuss it with friends and family.

Talking about climate change has the benefits of:

• identifying other people who are concerned about global warming, which is likely to be many of your peers! According to the Yale Climate Opinion Maps 2023,  64% of adults in the US are worried about global warming; in NJ, it's 71%. Of course, having many others in the fight against climate breakdown is less lonely and more effective than having just yourself!

• encouraging cultural change and normalizing climate action (the more people are talking about it, the more important it must be!)

Well, how do we talk about it? The Yale article notes that you could start with jotting down climate actions you're already doing (see the sections below for example), actions you could do, and actions you're not yet welling to do. The list of actions you think you could do "are the fodder for your conversations with your friends and family." You could ask your friend who likes cooking, for example, for their favorite meat-free dishes due to their lesser climate impact, for example. 

"After you’ve taken action, talk about it. You thought your friend’s veggie taco recipe was delicious, so tell her. You and your friends voted for the mayoral candidate who supports public transit — and she actually won. Brag about it. You installed an all-electric heat pump? Show it off to everyone who visits your home. And then keep asking questions — and talking. By itself, talk won’t save the climate. But it’s a good place to start."