Watch your language on climate change

As climate disruption becomes more evident, more people are empowered to advocate for climate mitigation. This advocacy is positive, but climate advocates must choose their words carefully for their message to be most effective.

Advocates need humility because we don’t have all the answers. For instance, while the climate science fundamentals are well-established, it is a relatively new field and probably still holds plenty of surprises.

Humility is necessary because renewable energy development will make mistakes, just like any other technology development. However, we can be optimistic here because if we compare any early technology with its modern equivalent, we can expect future renewables to be similarly better than today’s interim solutions.

Humility is essential because advocates can lose their audience by implying superior knowledge. So, if you are a climate advocate, please remember: Don’t talk down when you speak up.

Simon Smith

Pullman