Saving Us

June 14, 2021
Practical advice abounds in this compassionate guide to conducting meaningful discussions about the environment from climate scientist Hayhoe (All We Can Save). Aiming to show “how to have conversations” that “ genuine relationships and communities,” Hayhoe casts aside the notion of believers versus deniers and instead makes use of a grouping system devised by researchers Tony Leiserowitz and Ed Maibach that divides people into six categories: the alarmed, concerned, cautious, disengaged, doubtful, and dismissive. It is easier to target messages, Hayhoe notes, when one better understands the audience: if talking to someone doubtful, for instance, scientific explanations can help change their minds, but taking the same approach with dismissives will lead to them doubling down on their rejection. The author also considers the emotions of fear and guilt that come up when talking about the health of the planet, and suggests it’s key to channel these emotions into a belief that things can be fixed. Above all, Hayhoe’s advice comes down to bonding and connecting with people; a way to begin, she writes, is to ask “Because of what we both care about, why might climate change matter to us?” While some may find her outlook a bit rose-tinged—“We can fix it. There are solutions”—those in search of a hope-filled approach will find plenty of encouragement.