Climate action needs communications leadership

It’s the small, everyday changes that have made me truly realise the scale of climate change. I expect summers to be wetter and warm jumpers to stay in the cupboards. I recognise extreme climate events like floods or storms are more likely. And while I’m more aware that our climate is changing, I also more aware that addressing a challenge of this magnitude requires both a systemic approach and strong government leadership. Inspiring behaviour change and global action needs urgency and a clear, shared goal—one that people can rally around both collectively and individually.

Mobilising this kind of action presents a communications challenge. We have to wake people up to how quickly our climate is changing while explaining how action could lead to positive outcomes. Policy ‘sticks’ have to go hand in hand with ‘carrots’ that persuade business and society alike to face into our greatest challenge and not only preserve our climate for the future but create opportunities for the now.

We can see a good example of this balance in the government’s launch of its clean energy mission. The mission sets out the importance of renewable energy in reducing carbon emissions then details the systemic changes needed to transform how we generate, distribute, and use energy. It has delivered an urgent ‘call to action’ while creating a platform for businesses and society to now step up and collaborate with government to deliver the ambition.

The key takeaway for communication leadership is that tackling complex challenges requires a narrative that is honest about risk and reward while being clear about what must be done, by when. As the government has achieved with its clean energy mission, this approach inspires trust and a belief that the organisation and its leadership can make change happen.