Download Communicating climate change

From Science to Storytelling
Communicating Climate Change
Alison Perrin
Climate Change Information Analyst
Northern Climate ExChange
Yukon Research Centre
Northern Climate ExChange
Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College
NCE has provided a range of climate change services to Yukon
since 2000, related to:
• Adaptation (community climate change adaptation plans,
vulnerability assessments, hazard mapping, and mainstreaming…)
• Mitigation (Whitehorse Green Guide, Advisor for YG Climate
Change Action Plan and emission targets…)
• Education and outreach (Climate Change for Decision Makers,
online newsletter distributed across Canada, lecture series…)
• Climate Change Information and Mainstreaming Program
(provide information and recommendations to decision makers)
The story of climate change
credit: Joel Pett, USA Today, CartoonArts International
Changing the story
CHALLENGES
CHANGING THE STORY
• Science focus
• Human connection
• Sensationalism
• Relevance
• Fear mongering
• Accessible science
• Spokespeople
• Spokespeople
• The blame game
• Solutions
Photo credit: NASA
Why should I share?
 The bigger picture
 Connect with stakeholders
 Share the northern story
 Achieve a goal
 Publish or perish (or is it
publicize or perish)
Bringing science to life
The art of storytelling
• The storyteller
• Beginning the story
• Building the plot
• The cliffhanger ending
Bringing science to life
Pitfalls and opportunities
WHERE CAN WE GO WRONG?
 Mired in the details
 Advocacy/political agenda
 Jargon
 Making assumptions
What’s next?
How we can promote
communication within
our Yukon science
community and to the
Yukon public?