How do you communicate and advocate for your climate change vision and values?

Mixing storytelling with facts is key to good communication and engagement. It's important to use clear language, avoid jargon or presume extensive knowledge. Climate change affects nature adversely and nature loss exacerbates climate change. Nature regulates climate so talking about climate change without understanding this deep interconnection is to only consider climate change from a single and incomplete perspective. Well designed nature-based solutions provide a significant tool in mitigating and adapting to climate change through, for example, embedding carbon into matter (plants, soil), regulating water cycles and increasing biodiversity. Thriving nature is a fundamental pre-condition to thriving health and wellbeing for all.

I agree and would add as well focus first on your strategy to avoid possible backlash. It is important to communicate a clear vision and demostrate a clear commitment rather than vague statements. the you can tailor your message to the audiences

Knowing your audience is key, and you have to communicate your beliefs in a way that would have an impact on the other person. Please note that while some actions may seem easy for you, they're not easy for everyone. We cannot judge people for doing one thing before knowing the full story behind their decision. Each individual has a different motivation, and if you manage to understand it, you'll be able to communicate more effectively.

Besides clean and compelling language, solid data should be provided to the stakeholders. Cutting 50% of the GHG emissions or reducing by half the GHG emissions has to be accompanied by CO2e tons as well as the way the company is going to achieve this. Offsets for example are not the same as actually reducing the emissions of a company, which is the way to net zero

While we have to avoid technical terms and scientific jargon, it is important to also actually understand what we're talking about. Saying that "we're going to cut 50% off of our emissions" is quite vague, without a plan behind it.

Use language and examples that matter to your target audience. All sustainability claims must be backed by evidence, but that doesn't mean your actions are only communicated with data. Use stories of the IMPACT that you're having in specific areas that align with your sustainability strategy. Share the story, and the people behind it, connect your impact to things that matter to people the most i.e. air pollution, and always have the data close at hand to backup your claims.

My approach is to look at what matters to the client. Understanding the impact that climate change causes for my client, by peeling back 10-20-30 layers, and get to the unique insight that would add value to them. As an example, an institutional investor could be losing out on potential increase in returns on their portfolio by only focusing on the downside of climate change. As far as I see, there is no bad risk. We only have bad pricing.

I agree. in addition to what I have mentioned above, I would suggest to go or a certification, for example B Corp, to build your message around it. B Corp, due to its holistic nature, is well suited to tell a powerful and engaging story and as well put the company in the same space as the most sustainable ones in the world.

I agree. Events, graphs, visuals. to engage your stakeholders. A certification logo on that can be a good way to summarize it and communicate a powerful message.

Visual storytelling is one of the best way to convey a message. Furthermore, sharing data, graphs while talking about technical issues will help your message.

While sharing your knowledge is important, engaging with people while doing so it's a great step to incentivize people, make them feel involved, and you'll be able to convey your message easier. Additionally, you'll find new ways of explaining things, you'll find different approaches on the same subjects, and, why not, you can even start a whole debate. Which is always great.

I agree. it is important to discuss it not only as marketing and communication perspective but as well as a learning tool to improve in your commitment and feed back into your sustainability strategy.

Bring it up all the time (in a way that considers all the above tips). It's pretty amazing how effective repetition is in changing people's mindsets and behaviours.

Would add go for a certification (as B Corp or others) to summarize your commitment and use it as first message for your audience.

Totally agree Lauren. I am working on influencing the normalisation of climate change as a consideration to everything. There are opportunities for raising questions when discussing so many aspects of how business is getting done with questions like: "Have we thought about the sustainability impacts?" "Is there an opportunity to promote sustainability in this?" The more we inject these questions into conversations, the more likely it is they will become top of mind and climb the list of priorities.

In the delicate field of climate change is important to show that you walk the talk. For example if you report back the conclusion of a climate conference which you attended make sure you post the picture of you getting inside the train to get there and back as opposed to say that you are flying back home. Why is this so important? To differentiate from easy green talks, to leave a personal touch, to inspire change and more.