Science is necessary, but it is clear that it is not enough, to transfer the climate crisis. The past two years have been the most hot. Refuse of climate change is still widespread, and false claims are increasing about “environmental benefits of products, or” washing washing “. What can researchers do?
A decade ago, many scientists tend to say that the best way they could contribute to climate discussion is to publish a good research on politics-and then he left the matter to governments and actors of civil society to translate this science into work. The United Nations International Committee on Climate Change (IPCC) has done a tremendous work in collecting evidence that shows the risks of global warming and planning work paths. However, the total annual global greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be higher than 60 % in 2025 than it was in 1990, when the first iPCC report was published.
Climate scientists study a world in which change is the only constant, as the collapse of our planet’s systems is wide and clear. Most of these researchers fight a deep feeling of sadness, as well as anxiety about the future and the youth who love and care about it, and who will inherit a damaged planet. We must continue to document the change, the effects of the model and the description of solutions – but we cannot stop there.
Young people are decisive in research – how can they be paid somewhat?
Increasingly, many climate scientists adopt climate activity. I am a great fan of those who do it, and they participated in myself – although some scientists criticize the activity for his alleged bias (U. büntgen Clim Clim. an act 336; 2024). But there are other things we can also do.
Climate communication is an important way to work that we do not talk about enough. Many academic scientists, who are also teachers, are already in depth in it. But we did not pay enough attention to communication outside the semester.
In May 2019, the University of AZIM Premji in Bangaluru, India, launched the Climate and Sustainability Center (which is now called the College of Climate Change and Sustainability), with the aim of enhancing India’s response to the Climate Crisis. Over the past five years, my colleagues and I have written public lectures and written media articles; Short courses are studied for professionals who manipulate, including journalists, writers and climate practitioners; I used comic books, games and videos to reach various fans. Three years ago, the university launched a multi -language climate festival attended by tens of thousands of young visitors throughout India.
Through these experiences and experiences- those related to other low and medium-sized rural contexts- have collected five important lessons of climate communication.
Don’t only be sad for the loss of nature
Climate change, the collapse of biological diversity and pollution is classic “bleak specialties”, which can sink young people – the main goal of our communication efforts – to depression. I have seen my students struggling to search for hope when facing climate change facts. Public communication must exceed death and depression stories, which – although realistic – have an unfortunate effect to make many people come out, rather than engaging in the conversation.
To stimulate climate work, teachers must get a personality
In real life, people interact with nature with their senses, and here climate festivals can be effective. Our festivals included artistic facilities, films examination, theater performances and folk artist, natural walking, paint paint and mushroom collection, as well as traditional Indian games with seeds and shells. These overwhelming methods that involve people with nature visiting people can help the presentation of scientific information negatively and towards a happier and more active way to interact with climate research. This enables individuals to allocate and accelerate the elements of nature in their minds and bodies. I hope these experiences are with people throughout their lives.
The names of these events use the borrowing of the Indian or “Mila” festival to celebrate a different way of nature every year. In 2022, we focused on “rivers of life” – moving to “forests of life” in 2023, and the mountains of life in 2024 and now “coasts and oceans of life” this year. We are not unrealistic optimistic – these festivals display the dark facts in the syndrome forests, collapsed mountains, contaminated rivers and warming oceans. But we also use optical factors and the voices of the local population to document the beauty of a snow -covered mountain, the joy of the original forest festival and the intimate relationship of Shaman with the river gods. Over time, we find that these are the festival areas where people remain, read and interact – their eyes shine with hope. Celebrations attract the crowd – and people remain to discuss challenges.
Using multi -language communications
Teaching climate change is not only for those who speak English, or whatever the dominant language in the region. India is one of the most linguistic diversified countries in the world, but most scientific discussions in India are limited to a relatively small section of the population – those who speak English. This leaves the majority of the country’s population, who also have a class in the future of the climate in India and are often very excited to work.
Although the school of climate change and sustainability has evolved its climatic materials in English, it translated it into Al -Kanada, Hindi and Al -A hiss, and it is now explaining it in other languages. This is not without challenges. For example, how do you take a technical term such as “sustainability” and translate it into a local Indian language? The direct translation of the term in Al -Kanada is “Susthirate”, which means always, or freedom from instability. It does not work. Instead, the material contains many of these technical terms, written in the local text program – or uses alternative ways to connect the same idea without using the term.
AZIM Premji University in Bangaluru, India, hosts an annual multi -language festival.Credit: Harini Nagdendra
The university throws its network widely to find people who can complete translations. Professional translators, who are used to translate literature and poetry, often use a complex language with literary prosperity. However, the comprehensiveness of this language can be an obstacle for children from low -income public schools, which constitute about half of visitors in our climate change festivals.
The festival organizers are now working with intermediate and highly committed language teachers, who are accustomed to communicating complex ideas using relatively simple vocabulary. This process helps to improve teachers’ communication skills in climate change, enhance the festival’s partnership with teachers, and build a larger society.
Youth involvement
The success of student movements on climate change, such as Friday for the Future Movement and the Sunrise, explains the importance of involving young people in climate communication. However, often, some scholars of young people think as recipients to know their knowledge, not like a prize to communicate with unique views and ways to communicate with others of their generation.
Over the past three years, we have worked with more than 200 young trainees as part of climate festivals, who have visited various parts of India to document climate and environmental change on Earth. This was two important results.
Why do we still do not know the increasing health risks of climate change
First, it was built on its ability, commitment to the subject, and turning them into climate heroes for life. Some of the smallest trainee students-including 14-year-old children-handed over strong projects, including Terrarium, was the focus of our artistic exhibitions, and an offer that explores the morals surrounding the elephant and training in India.
Another high school student has documented an island in SundarBans, the mangrove forest area in the Gang-Delta Brahamabuhtra, which is swallowed through sea level rise. In realizing that the population was also dealing with other challenges, including insufficient public health system, the student raised money to help the island’s residents. Many of our younger visitors have returned to our university, submitting to undergraduate programs and seeking to contribute to climate activities.
Second, we found that young people are more likely to respond to the messages provided by other young people, instead of scientific lectures, but less easy, by trained specialists. When students see other young people who have completed exciting projects, they inspire them to link the bow and contribute.
Raise traditional knowledge
Most of the efforts made to connect climate science to researchers who use people to inform and influence people. But scientists and sustainability specialists are not the only people who have experts. They can learn from society, as well as informing.
Climate justice is a major axis for us. Although we are working with many scientists, climate practitioners and excellent activists in communicating with the broader masses, we also found that preaching, moral and preaching – such as telling people that they are “bad” to consume more, using plastic and travel. Through the plane and so on – just run the fans away. Students often set these messages.
Exhibitions are used at the annual climate festival in Bangallaro, India to inspire students.Credit: Harini Nagdendra
Instead of receiving information through educational lectures, it is more effective to make the audience reach such conclusions for themselves – by displaying their photos of people living on the coast whose lives are affected by plastic, for example.
The original societies, with their deep relationship with nature and different cognitive curricula, include experts of a different kind and have long been ignored by scientists. In November 2023, the “Life Forests” festival was opened for two weeks on our university campus, by the Soliga tribal elders. Instead of throwing a specialized talk, they danced a traditional harvest on the stage and called on students to join them. By the end of the performance, even teachers and security and support staff were dancing with the group, which turns the atmosphere into a transcendent and happy thing – which is an ideal festival for the festival.