Despite it being a crucial election year for the US and Europe, climate change action is conspicuously absent.campaignThis omission is particularly striking given the mounting undeniable evidence of the impacts of climate change and the fact that time is running out to take swift and decisive action on climate change.
In the United States, sound climate policies are being proposed to meet voter expectations and satisfy voters in the national elections scheduled for later this year. It is not surprising that Republicans are putting forward anti-climate policies, but leading Democrats are now doing the same. President Biden The order to retreat was given He spoke about his climate change plan in an effort to win support from moderate and younger voters.
Similarly, in New York state, the Democratic governor recently halted a long-planned congestion pricing initiative in New York City.Appealing to suburban votersThe carloads of people driving into the city could determine whether or not they can win congressional seats and Democrats’ chances of retaking the House of Representatives. Expect to see more of these events in the coming months and in the run up to the November elections.
In Europe,Double the rateAs seen in other parts of the world, right-wing populist parties have dominated EU elections this year. Avoided ambitious climate policies They exploited the fears of farmers protesting against tough environmental regulations, rising costs, bureaucratic red tape and competition from cheap food imports.The Green Party loses 19 seatsA loss of seats could push Europe further away from ambitious climate policies under the Green Deal.
The impact on states is also a concern. Win more than 50 seats in parliament This month, France’s far-right Rally National party No climate policy — shows how far removed this issue is from the election campaign, while media coverage and public debate have focused mainly on the party’s xenophobia and the threat it poses in the form of anti-democratic governance. Nowhere has the urgency of tackling climate change been addressed.
Despite all this, voters in the EU and the USThe climate crisis is still being rankedAn obvious question arises: why is this issue not being addressed as one of their most pressing concerns?
The answer lies in our failure to effectively communicate the interconnectedness of the climate crisis to other pressing concerns like national security and economic stability. To remedy this, there are three key steps that public officials can take not only during the election campaign but also between election cycles:
First, they can develop narratives that connect the direct and harmful effects of climate change to everyday life and broader social injustices, for example by depicting how climate change worsens communities.Agriculture challengesOr how it intersectsInternational SecurityThis makes the issue more personal and urgent. This approach not only makes the climate crisis more demystified, but also makes it clear that climate action benefits everyone, in both the short and long term.
Secondly, climate change solutions that constructively address social issues can be introduced as a way to alleviate feelings of powerlessness.anxietyBy emphasizing the mutual benefits of climate change measures,public health andEconomic stability — helps cut across political divides and speaks directly to the interests of individuals and communities.
Third, you can do all of the above with words and narratives that are consistent with the language the public already uses. Not multi-syllabic, arcane concepts like deep decarbonization, carbon neutrality, or net zero. These are not the words most people use to describe our current climate reality. So, drop the longwinded language as it is unresonant and unmotivating, and listen to how your community is communicating and reflect accordingly.
To be clear, US and EU policymakers on the campaign trail do not need to hide or put aside sound climate policies to appeal to voters. Reframing the narrative to highlight the direct, immediate impacts of climate change can galvanize public support and spur the decisive action that is urgently needed.
This is what effective policy communication looks like.Synergies in climate change measuresPresenting climate policies as improving public health, economic stability, and social welfare while providing concrete examples of sustainable practices and their immediate benefits can actually build strong support for climate initiatives.
There is no time for further shelving or postponement as a political ploy: if the implications and opportunities are effectively communicated and interpreted, votes can be mobilized for good climate policy, before the far right gains political power and liberals are further at their mercy.
Yves Karroubi is a climate change advocate and a board member of Greenpeace France. Dr. Michael Shank is Engagement Director at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and Adjunct Professor at the Center for Global Affairs at New York University.
