Have you hesitated to bring up climate change with friends and family? Are you worried about walking into an argument?
You’re not alone, but maybe you shouldn’t worry too much about it.
According to a study published in the research journal Nature Communications, the vast majority of Americans– up to 90% – underestimate how many of their fellow citizens support climate change policies. The researchers found that “supporters of climate policies outnumber opponents two to one, while Americans falsely perceive nearly the opposite to be true.”
Opinions are even stronger internationally. Nearly two-thirds of respondents to a United Nations Development Programme survey published in 2021 said they believe climate change is “a global emergency.”
So why not talk about climate change? The best way to approach conversations of this type is to invite discussion, not debate. And definitely listen more than you talk.
Here are some topics that could lead naturally to a climate change conversation:
- The weather
- The local garbage and recycling program
- Changes in eating habits, for example reducing meat consumption
- Air and/or water pollution
- Energy use and energy prices
- Home maintenance and gardening,
What other topics could you add to this list? (Hint: past issues of the Daily Difference are full of ideas.)
Please forward this email to a friend and keep the conversation going.