Talking Climate in everyday Chats

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Our daily life conversations can play a role in shaping a better world. Talking about climate change with our family, friends, colleagues and neighbours can “spark” a change in someone and add another voice for social change. But it is not always easy to talk to people about our climate convictions, nor to inspire behaviour change. The EU DEAR project SPARK! has researched effective ways to do so, collected in their ”Talking Climate” handbook.

The handbook and workshop guide (with script and slidedeck), produced by SPARK! Parner Climate Alliance, provides tips and advice on how to have meaningful and productive conversations about climate change. The resources provide practical evidence-based guidance on how to help friends, family, colleagues, neighbours feel more confident about talking about climate change. 

Beyond inspiring everyday conversations, the handbook can guide webinars or in-person workshops that inspire such discussions with family and friends. “It was very fulfilling to see how the workshop really empowered and motivated people in having climate conversations,” said one participant. The idea is to spread the word and upskill communities to have better climate conversations – conversations that leave them feeling inspired and connected. 

The workshop guide explains key concepts and provides tips for recruiting workshop participants, facilitating the training, and hosting webinars. There are options to run short or longer webinars/workshops. To refine and produce the training methodology and package, 20 trainers tested it through 33 pilot workshops in 22 countries, mainly in Europe.

_{Photo by Adrian Snood (CC BY-NC 2.0)}