How to Talk to Anyone in Your Family About Climate Change

Understanding climate change and its impacts affects everyone differently. Some of us are deeply involved, while others may see it as a distant future concern.

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If you're more engaged with climate issues, you can help others in your circle progress on their journey, encouraging them to join in collective action against the climate crisis. Simply overwhelming friends and family with statistics or frightening them with doomsday scenarios won't work.

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Instead, have meaningful conversations. Listen first to understand their values and beliefs. Then, connect climate change to what matters most to them by showing how it affects — or will affect — the things they care about.

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Lauren Bash's IG series "Tell me what you care about, and I can get you to care about climate" offers excellent examples of this approach.

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Here are several common interests you can use to start meaningful climate conversations:

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Sports

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When talking to sports fans about climate change, one can point to many examples of how it's affecting their favorite games. The 2014 Australian Open saw players battling in 106°F heat, while the Paris Olympics had to install special cooling stations just to keep athletes safe.

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Baseball fans might be interested in learning that climate change is actually making it easier to hit home runs due to reduced air resistance, an unexpected side effect of our changing atmosphere.

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Young players and college athletes also face mounting risks from rising temperatures due to climate change. High school athletes are particularly vulnerable, as extreme heat leads to more heat-related illnesses, injuries, hospitalizations, and deaths. Heat stroke has become one of the leading causes of sports-related fatalities.

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Sports figures and teams have significant platforms and resources. Fans can make a difference by encouraging their favorite athletes to speak up about these climate impacts, as the future of sports depends on a stable climate.

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Food

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For food lovers, climate change hits close to home. Our favorite daily indulgences such as coffee, chocolate, and tea are facing serious challenges. Coffee farmers are struggling with unpredictable weather, which could mean fewer beans for your morning brew. Chocolate makers are dealing with changing rain patterns that affect cocoa crops. Even your cup of tea might taste different, as heavy rains in tea-growing regions affect the leaves' flavor.

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The story doesn't end with beverages. Basic staples like rice are becoming harder to grow due to frequent droughts. And that peanut butter sandwich? Climate change is making peanut farming more challenging, which could drive up prices. The good news is that we can help by making simple changes, like choosing more plant-based meals and reducing our consumption of animal products, which helps lower greenhouse gas emissions.

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Women’s Rights

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When discussing climate change with those passionate about women's rights, it's important to note how closely these issues are linked. Women face unique challenges as our climate changes. For example, in many communities, women are responsible for getting food, water, and fuel for their families. These tasks become much harder during droughts or after natural disasters.

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Climate-related events can also make women more vulnerable to violence and health risks, especially during pregnancy. By connecting these dots, we can show how supporting climate action is a crucial step in advancing women's rights and equality.

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Economic Development

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For investors and those interested in economics, climate change poses significant financial risks. The Swiss Re Institute found that without action, global GDP could drop by up to 18% by 2050. Even if we meet Paris Agreement targets, we're looking at a 4% loss. Some regions will feel this more than others - Asian economies could see losses of up to 26.5%, with ASEAN countries potentially facing drops of up to 37.4%. The US, Canada, the UK, and Europe might fare slightly better but could still lose 10-11% of GDP. Meanwhile, the Middle East and Africa could see impacts ranging from 4.7% to 27.6%. These numbers make it clear: protecting our climate isn't just about the environment, it's about protecting our economic future too.

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