"We Had Heatwaves In 1976" - How to Have Better Conversations About Climate Change

An old school friend shared something on Facebook a few weeks ago that made me audibly sigh. It went something along the lines of “Heatwaves are nothing new. Back in 1976, 32°C meant ice lollies, not rolling news coverage”.

We’re the same age, so they weren't even alive in 1976, let alone eating ice lollies or watching the news. But lived experience (or lack of) aside, I’ve heard a lot of this kind of messaging this summer. The message that one heatwave from 50 years ago somehow disproves decades of climate science.

I’m not proud of it, but my instant reaction was to type a disparaging comment along the lines of “And where did you get your degree in climate science from?”

But I took a deep breath and reminded myself that’s the entirely wrong approach. I’ve spent years talking to people about climate change. I’ve found that approaching people who are sceptical about climate change with hostility, or making them feel stupid, is unproductive and achieves absolutely nothing.

People rarely change their minds because someone embarrassed them in an argument. Instead, people are much more likely to reconsider their views when they feel respected.

If you have people in your life who are saying “we had heatwaves in 1976 too, climate change isn’t real,” then here are some positive and productive non-confrontational tips on how to talk about it: