This is part of a series of posts based on episodes of The Climate Pivot podcast. Across the series, I speak with people who have pivoted their careers towards climate action in their own unique ways.
In Episode 2 of The Climate Pivot, I spoke with Emily Swaddle, a freelance podcaster, coach, storyteller, nature connection facilitator, and more besides. Among other projects, she also works with me as part of the team that puts together Apple chart-topping podcast The Carbon Removal Show. Much of Emily’s work deals with the question of how to communicate climate issues to different audiences, as well as how we can all better connect with the wild.
- Find power in vulnerability
Being open about your emotions when communicating about climate can help others relate to you and your message on a deeper level, but it can also help you on your climate journey. As Emily expressed, bringing your whole self to a moment can feel risky, but it also brings authenticity.
“I got quite emotional and I think I’m glad I did. That was what was real for me in that moment. And that felt important to bring into what we were doing … Bringing your whole self to a moment can be really hard and really harsh but I do think it’s really valuable when it can happen.”
- Create meaningful connections
At its core, effective climate communication is about forming genuine connections between people. With care, courage and intention, we can bridge divides and unite behind shared values.
“Creating those connections was definitely the number one thing that helped us make impact … But in order to do that, we did have to have a level of audacity, I suppose – that we just thought we could, and so we did.”
- Recognise the emotional needs of others
In any climate conversation, recognise that everyone has emotional needs to feel heard, understood and able to express themselves. Meeting these needs creates a foundation of trust and mutual understanding.
“We still have some sort of need in any conversation. Like, ‘I need to feel heard’ or ‘I need to feel like I can actually stand up and say my piece’ … And I think a lot of bad communication happens when people don’t recognise other people’s needs or when one person’s needs take over.”
- Avoid the trap of perfectionism
Don’t let the paralysis of perfectionism stop you from advocating for climate action. Your voice is valuable, regardless of the individual actions you take today and tomorrow.
“It’s just impossible to do everything all the time, and fundamentally unsustainable. But it doesn’t mean that I can’t have that conversation… Gatekeeping trying to be more sustainable, trying to live in a more environmentally friendly way, just breaks down conversations before they’ve even begun.”
- Set communication boundaries
Know when engaging is unproductive or harmful to you or others. As Emily noted, withdrawing with care is not the same as giving up. Sometimes, the healthiest choice is not to communicate.
“Sometimes that means just being like: ‘This isn’t the time or place for me to communicate this’… And I think when I was younger I would’ve thought of that as giving up. But I do think it’s actually a really important part of the process to know when it’s not right to communicate.”
- Recognize this as a story of social injustice
The climate crisis is intertwined with broader structures of oppression and exploitation. Making these connections clear can help people understand it as part of humanity’s larger fight for justice.
“To me, it’s all part of the same story of power being abused. Power over people – individuals, or different groups of people – but also power over natural resources and natural space and other creatures. It’s all part of the same story.”
- Acknowledge climate grief
The climate crisis evokes profound grief. Providing space for collective mourning and connecting through shared pain are vital forms of care and resistance.
“Everything that we’re fighting against is terrifying and heart-breaking. Acknowledge those emotions as they come up, and find spaces where they can be held and where other people can express themselves as well… Connection with people who feel the same way, I think, is really important.”
There are so many more rich lessons in my thought-provoking conversation with Emily. Tune in wherever you listen to podcasts to hear more of her insights on communicating climate change with compassion and purpose.