CLIMATE COUNCIL CONVERSATION GUIDE

The Climate Council have just released a conversation guide on their website www.climatecouncil.org.au which you can read here.

This is a precis. The guide suggests how you can best engage with friends, family, social media and even your MP to explain the latest climate science and solutions.

The Climate Council’s report, ‘Aim Hard, Go Fast: Why emissions need to plummet this decade’ shows that climate change is accelerating faster than previously thought. Australia needs to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 and race to net zero emissions by 2035. Join the conversation!

5 top tips:

1. DEGREES OF DANGER Already, at 1.1°C of global temperature rise, Australians’ lives and livelihoods are being harmed. It is likely that the global average temperature rise will breach 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in the 2030s.

DON’T Focus on specific facts or figures as they often mean little to most people.

DO Keep things simple. Use phrases like: − ‘Every fraction of a degree matters’ and ‘There is no “safe” level of global warming’ to highlight that climate change is a clear and present danger.

2. FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN CHANGE Past inaction is frustrating but dwelling on it does not help –look forward to what we can do now.
Tip: Excite people about the opportunities and benefits that come from acting on climate change.

3. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS NEED TO PLUMMET THIS DECADE Talk about solutions required this decade by Australia, such as phasing out all existing fossil fuels and replacing them with other energy sources built around renewable electricity.

Tip: Talk about the growing momentum around international climate action, as this increases a sense of urgency for our issue among less concerned audiences.

Tip: Suggest getting to net zero as a race, where Australia is falling behind and losing out on the clean economy race.

4. CONNECT THE SCALE AND URGENCY OF THIS WORSENING SITUATION TO THE REQUIRED RESPONSE Climate change is accelerating and our response must match the scale and speed of this.

Tip: Make the point that the scale and speed of action matters. Simply acting is not enough: we need to do more, and faster.

5. HIGHLIGHT THE PROGRESS THAT’S ALREADY UNDERWAY Action is contagious. Talk about solutions that are already underway, and provide positive examples of what communities, businesses and state and local governments have already achieved.

Tip: It doesn’t matter how big or how small the example is. Showing people that something can be done gives them the confidence that we can do more. By investing in wind and solar technologies, South Australia has become a global leader in renewable energy. The state already generates over half of its electricity from renewable sources and is aiming to reach 100% by 2030.

For more information: Refer to the Climate Council’s annual States Renewable Energy Race report for information about how States and Territories are taking action to reduce emissions.

ENGAGING IN CONVERSATION ONLINE
When it comes to conversing online, here are a few things to keep in mind:

If you’re sharing content, such as a video or image, include a short paragraph to summarise what it’s about, and why it matters. Think about the perspective of the person reading: what’s most important for them to know? Be clear and direct. If you want your friends to take an action, such as emailing their MP, or reading an article, remember to include a link to the action/article and specify what you’d like them to do. Remember to explain why it’s worth doing and how it will make a difference.

Tip: It’s a good idea to include a visual element to draw the eye and illustrate your point. Here are a range of shareable digital resources you can use: − Video: ‘Change the story’ on Facebook / IGTV − Social media graphics on Facebook / Instagram − Article by Climate Councillor, Prof. Lesley Hughes: What keeps climate scientists like me awake at night - and why the next 10 years are so critical.

Tip: If you’re posting about the report on Instagram, add the link to your bio so your friends and followers can open it straight in their browser (it won’t work in the caption)!

Remember to tag the Climate Council or link back to their website climatecouncil.org.au

Together, we can help push all decision makers to step up their action, and excite more Australians about the opportunities and benefits this will bring us.