Stanisland Magazine

Your emotions are your strongest weapon in fighting climate breakdown. Emotions win elections, personal struggles, friendships and it is no different in the fight against negative climate change.

We’ve been through a lot in the past few months made worse by contradicting ideas on how to combat our predicament. The internet became petrol on a bonfire for pseudoscientific claims and conspiratorial talk. Unfortunately, like tabloid news, the internet prefers to highlight fast-food stories that are easily digestible like pop-up picture books, that is quick, easy entertainment that amuses our person and distracts for the love of ignorance.

Covid-19 unleashed visuals that smeared the bigger picture. When factories temporarily shut down worldwide, we marvelled at it, internally clapping with elation that CO2 emissions looked to be dwindling. It preyed on our ignorance to forget the future through a split-second moment, but once the globalisation machine re-ignites, so will the smog of industry.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now” – Chinese proverb

Right now, the planet faces several crises. Of those, few are receiving the coverage they need. Instead, it has been reserved for niche channels such as Euronews and climate-focused websites such as ‘CarbonBrief’. If mainstream news is to talk about catastrophic Climate Change, we will need to play them at their own game to highlight the devastation it causes.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May marched forward with plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions as part of the 2008 Climate Change act following the realisation of environmental damage on her Swiss walking holidays. What this means, is that leaders are only nudged into action when the effects are felt on a personal level. And that is what we need to help them realise.

Climate Change is political. And like any other political issue, emotions regardless of the facts, change the tide of opinion. The effects of Climate Change are apparent, and the facts are universally agreed upon. So if facts won’t sway minds, change must happen through visualisations and the use of gifted speakers to set emotions ablaze so we can shepherd opinion through the gate.

It’s time to get emotional. And how we do that depends on who you want to get personal with. Show politicians how they will lose constituents through a lack of action on mass flooding, drought and eco-damage. Tell stockbrokers, bankers and the wealthy how they will stand to lose profits through environmental damage. Advise your local farmer that their crops will be lost along with graze patches. Make hikers realise they will be walking on water and above all else, let’s get the apathetic to care once again. Let’s get emotional. Do something, anything! It’s not just your choice, but an obligation for all to enhance the reality of our future. A future not so far away that may see your long-term plans cut short.