Yes, Your Friends and Neighbors Want to Talk to You About Climate Change

Really, they do — they just don’t think you want to talk about it. So stop being afraid of pushback, break the “climate silence,” and start a conversation.

Photo credit: iStock

By The Revelator and John R. Platt

This story is part of The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now.

In these divided times, it seems everyone is ready to start an argument at the drop of a hat, especially on topics that have been made so politically polarizing, like climate change.

But is that true? Are conversations about climate change really doomed before they even start?

As it turns out, they’re not — we just think they are, so we avoid having these conversations in the first place.

Here’s the reality: According to multiple surveys and scientific studies, between 80–89% of people want the world’s governments to take stronger action against climate change. At the same time, the people who want action don’t realize they’re in the majority because not enough people are talking about it — especially in the media.