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TL;DR 5 Storytelling lessons from Neil deGrasse Tyson on climate communication. This entry is our first creator breakdown. A format you'll see more of in the coming months! Requests for breakdowns? Ask your questions below in the form!
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📲 Building in public - Project updates:

Small update here, but an important one! This year is all about creating systems.

Last year we kicked off a series of media pieces that allowed us to test, learn and improve on the way we create content. This year we're putting that into systems that help us grow and sustain the—sometimes maddening—content train. We're only human after all... right?

The past week I've been tinkering at our content system. In short, it goes like this: I'm sharing this because I know how hard it is to be consistent as a creator. Especially if your creativity is linked to your mental state. Even more so in times when the world feels a bit too heavy (see last newsletter). ​ I hope sharing our blueprints here can help some of you find your rhythm and develop your own systems. You'll only see these updates as part of the newsletter. Now, back to our regular scheduled content!

🧠 Shifting mindsets, a case study

When it comes to breaking down complex topics, few do it better than Neil deGrasse Tyson. His approach to science communication isn’t just about facts. He is all about telling stories that connect science with your everyday life.

Neil is trying to shift mindsets.

For this entry, I analyzed his video “How I Think About Climate Change” and found a few takeaways for anyone who wants to improve their communication on climate issues.

Here are 5 lessons we can learn from his approach.👇
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1. Make it personal, not just abstract

Most people wouldn’t feel the difference of a 2°C increase in global temperatures. So, instead of focusing on raw numbers, Neil connects climate change to our everyday experiences:

Lesson:

Instead of dumping data on your conversation partner, frame climate change in terms of what they can see, feel and experience.
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2. Show, don’t just tell

If you ask me about Neil’s biggest strength? Probably the way he visualizes the scene. He doesn’t just explain, he gets you to paint a picture in your head.

Instead of saying “Climate change leads to flooding,” he recalls "Hurricane Sandy flooding NYC subway tunnels beyond anything in recorded history".

Lesson:

Use stories, analogies, metaphors and real world events to make the science visible. If you want to know more about the behavior science behind this, we have a podcast about that!
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3. Frame it as a stability problem

When some lay people hear the term 'global warming', they think: “so what if it gets a little warmer?”. Or “What’s that going to change for me? Might even be nice!”—I’m paraphrasing from my own experiences.

Instead, Neil flips the script:

Lesson:

Don’t just talk about heat or a warming world. Include how climate chaos disrupts the core systems people rely on in their everyday lives.
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4. Acknowledge the "new normal"

Neil makes it clear that preventing climate change is out of the picture. He makes a firm stand with his messaging that adaptation is now the reality.

• Some places will become unlivable: ​
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  "There [are] whole countries, island countries in the Pacific, where their average land elevation is low compared with sea level. As the world warms and we lose our ice cap from Antarctica and Greenland... that melts back into the oceans, it’s going to change the water levels and flood those countries."
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• Cities will need new infrastructure:
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  "What happened in New York City a few years ago? We had Hurricane Sandy... The water level rose so high it was higher than any previous level breached in the history of the city... There are these huge doors now that can close off the entrances and exits to the tunnels. That’s a response to a NEW NORMAL where the water levels might get higher than anyone had ever seen.”

Lesson:
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Climate change isn’t just a future problem anymore. It’s already reshaping the world NOW. Make it clear that it's something your audience will have to deal with, within their lifetime. More on this in our podcast about climate adaptation!
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5. The science isn’t up for debate

Neil doesn’t argue about whether climate change is real. Instead, he brings in how other actors are using the science to adapt their ways.

• For example, Neil mentions the military is already preparing for climate refugees. A clear reaction to the scientific projections.
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  ​"The military knows about this. They’re called climate refugees, people whose country is gone because the warming of the Earth changed the water levels that surrounded their countries."

Lesson:

Don’t waste energy debating settled science. Focus on integrating solutions, adaptation and impacts into your message. We learned this the hard way with posting on social media… 👀
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Let's recap

If you want to experiment with communicating climate issues, try incorporating these learnings into your messaging:

Neil doesn’t just talk about climate change. He makes it make sense for people. And that’s a skill we all need to practice.

Watch the full video here:

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📓 Get the Creators For Climate Resources

And that's it for today. Below is the updated list of resources you can access and where you can download all the documents for free. That includes:

• Field Guides: Download the guides
• How to turn posters into slides: Visit the blog​
• How to come up with content ideas for your research: Visit the blog​
• An ideation prompt to find focus: Visit the blog​
• The waitlist for the science communication workbook is now open. Find more information here.​

✨ I'd love to hear from you

Where are all the Climate Creators? Do you know a creator who is making a significant impact in the field of climate action / science communication? ​ Get or share a feature

Ask questions, get answers Have burning questions about creating content, storytelling, or any other aspect of climate communication? ​ Share your question

That’s it for now, until next time!

If you're reading this, I'm glad to have you on our journey. Thank you, you awesome human being!

Written by Tom Janssen Creators For Climate ​