Do you want to talk with others about climate change, but you’re not quite sure how?
We’ve got ready-made materials to help you.
You gather a group of friends or colleagues, either on-line or in person.
We provide all the materials you need to hold your own Climate Conversation.
A Climate Conversation is a chance to take time to discuss the climate crisis, your thoughts for the future, and deciding what actions you could take. Whether it’s 2 hours over a drink with friends, or a couple of lunch-hours at work, why not start organising it today?
What is a Climate Conversation?
A Climate Conversation is a chance to stop and really talk about climate change, and what we need to do – both as individuals and as a society.
Why bother? Lockdown has made us question so many things, and change many habits. Let’s take this time to reflect.
We know many people are really worried about climate change, and the terrible impact it will have if we don’t act fast enough, but they don’t know how to have that conversation with the people around them.
Your Climate Conversation is an opportunity to have that conversation, prioritise the actions you can personally take, and to tell us what you think needs to be done district-wide.
- There are eight questions and activities
- The whole Climate Conversation takes about 2 hours.
It’s been designed by Sustainable St Albans, to be used locally, but nearly everything is relevant wherever you live, so please do share it!
How to have a Climate Conversation
- Agree with your group, business, or household a time to meet, in person, or online. Set aside 2 hours; either in one go or as two one-hour sessions.
- Make it social: get tea and cake, or a glass of wine.
- Get ready. You need:
- a copy of the Climate Conversation leaflet each (printed or onscreen)
- a copy of the two activity sheets.
- a way to watch the two short videos.
- Have your Climate Conversation!
- As a group, discuss the questions and activities inside the Climate Conversation leaflet. Everything you need for your conversation is there … just follow the instructions!
- At the end, choose actions that suit you.
- And please give us your feedback using our short on-line survey.
- If you are meeting online, you might want to screen-share the on-line survey during the activities, to help your conversation.
All the materials you need for your Climate Conversation
To hold a Climate Conversation you need:
- the Climate Conversation leaflet:
- EITHER download a copy here, and print it at home or use it onscreen
- OR contact us to request a pack of paper leaflets to be dropped off (central St Albans and Harpenden only). When face-to-face events restart, you can pick up leaflets at events.
- the sheets of cards for activities 3 and 4, which you can download here
- access to the two short videos to watch during the Climate Conversation:
- one on climate impacts, and
- one on climate solutions.
- the online survey.
- pen, paper, scissors.
FAQs
What kind of group can hold a Climate Conversation: Any group you are part of. It could be your book group, your mates, work colleagues at lunchtime, your church or faith group, U3A, NCT mums, scouts/guides … you name it. Any small group of people that are ready for a real conversation about the climate.
Does someone need to lead the session? Someone needs to arrange the Climate Conversation, but they don’t need to run it or be a climate expert! … the leaflet guides you through. It’s good if someone offers to keep charge of the time, and if someone else volunteers to do the feedback form.
Does it work over Zoom / online? Yes! We’ve got paper copies of the leaflet if you are meeting face-to-face and a pdf version for you to meet over Zoom. If you are meeting online, you might want to use the online survey to do the rankings onscreen during Activity 3 and Activity 4.
Is it suitable for children? Older children and teenagers would be fine, but not little ones. It would work for older youth groups, guides or scouts, although you might want to take longer/shorter over some of the exercises.
How long does a Climate Conversation take? We’ve planned it to last around 2 hours.
Could we do it at work over two lunch hours? Yes! A Climate Conversation is eight short activities, so you can break it into two halves.
Who is behind the Climate Conversations? Sustainable St Albans has created the Climate Conversation materials, inspired by a similar project in Scotland and by the Ashden 31 Actions for Councils report. We are local environmental charity.
How do I start? Why not share this page with a group you are a part of, and ask if they would like to join you in a Climate Conversation. If they say yes, find a time, and get started!