The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Almost exactly 30 years after the United Nations declared at COP1 that human activities are changing the Earth’s climate and that these “adverse effects are a common concern of mankind,” little has changed for the better, and the facts remain:

A. Global warming/climate change is real.

B. The ongoing and potential impacts of climate change are detrimental to humans and the natural environment.

C. While we —the “general public” — may not agree about humans being responsible for the current era of global warming, the science is clear: We are.

This piece is about climate change messaging; about ways to effectively convey the message so an optimum number of people are reached. For messages about climate change to be effectively conveyed, several factors must be considered:

1. The impact of the audience’s values, identities, world views, and individual priorities on how it reacts to messages. Candidly: People want to know what’s in it for them. For example, a businesswoman might be interested in installing solar panels on the roof of her business if it is made clear how the investment will pay off financially over the long run. A true, true Christian may be motivated to reduce their carbon footprint by having a pastor who “walks the talk” deliver messages about “Creation care,” moral responsibility to others, and how such actions bring believers closer to God.

2. Messages must be framed through the use of “relevant, local images, and through good storytelling that focuses more on people (e.g., a victim of flooding) than nature (e.g, a turtle). Messages must be action-oriented, as in solutions and benefits, not doomsday prophecies, and must focus on concrete local actions that can be taken individually and collectively. For example, residents in low-lying, flood prone inland communities of New Providence need to understand how upgrading flood control infrastructure (e.g., deep wells, improved storm drains) will benefit them. Residents would then be responsible for helping keep drain grates and streets cleared of debris.

3. While scientific evidence is a must, language must be easily understood by the average citizen and must be relevant. Evidence from The Bahamas and the surrounding region must be utilised. For example, while climate change did not cause Hurricane Dorian, conditions related to global warming made it worse. Ocean temperatures have been steadily increasing over the past 150 years, with Atlantic surface temperatures in August 2019 tied with 2015 and 2017 for the second-highest on record. As we learned from our BJC 7th Grade Social Studies “Weather and Climate” unit, hurricanes derive their energy from warm surface waters (hence the time of year) and, the warmer the ocean, the stronger the hurricane.

4. Those concerned about the impact of climate change cannot dismiss climate sceptics. For example, during the 2016 US presidential election when Hillary Clinton said Trump’s supporters belonged in a “basket of deplorables.” Not a winning strategy. While sources of scepticism and misinformation must be addressed, information must be kept relevant. Allies, sceptics, and deniers must be recruited and respected. Engage, listen, converse, respect, collaborate. Build alliances, not walls.

5a. And adaptations. Adaptations are essential, particularly ones with achievable goals that bring tangible benefits to both individuals and the community and that fit within people’s norms and their pocketbooks. For example, turning down air conditioning and running them less will reduce one’s electricity bill, contribute to fewer power outages (especially in New Providence), and reduce CO2 emissions.

5b. Another concrete example: Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) could implement a saver switch programme for customers with central air conditioning. Here, during periods of peak demand, a switch installed by BPL would automatically cycle air conditioners off and on every 15-20 minutes (rotating by, say, distribution substation), while the fan stays on to circulate already cooled air. Incentivize by giving discounts to customers who join the programme.

1. Messaging must be conveyed in diverse formats and forums: from the news media to TikTok; from the pulpit; during political rallies; in classrooms. In short, wherever and however people gather virtually and in person.

An important reminder: As noted in my initial piece, our brains aren’t wired to deal with distant threats. For example, though I understand eating too much peas and rice, mac and cheese, conch fritters, and guava duff will probably lead to serious health problems 15, 20, 30 years from now, that knowledge and fear don’t outweigh the pleasure I derive from eating platefuls today, tomorrow, next week. The same applies to our carbon-based economy: It’s working for most Bahamians. So what’s the problem?

Briefly, for respectful, productive dialogue to occur, people must be met where we are and we must feel validated and that what we are doing makes sense for us individually and as a community. Global warming is an urgent issue. Unfortunately, the challenge of addressing climate change — of mitigating its effects and adapting lifestyles — can feel overwhelming, and this is why we must feel that each of us has the power to contribute to mitigation and adaptation efforts.

An important caveat to all this. While each person has a role to play, especially those of us in wealthier nations like The Bahamas who are top consumers, it is governments and corporations who must assume the mantle of responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As Diana Ivanova, a Research Fellow at the Sustainability Research Institute at the School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds notes, “An important question is who has the most power and agency for a change that will bring sizable cuts to emissions quickly, which really points the finger more to governments and corporations.”

An example of government policy: A revised building code that requires more climate and weather resistant energy-efficient buildings, as in LEED certification whereby buildings are healthy, efficient, and energy saving. This would especially apply to commercial construction and homes over a certain value. At a very tangible level, if construction cannot be prohibited in low-lying, flood-prone regions, new buildings should be elevated on higher foundations with stringent guidelines for septic systems. Also, to reduce reliance on energy-intensive RO municipal water and to reduce strain on supplies, homes over a certain value should be required to have cisterns.

CHRIS MINNS

George Town, Exuma

May 20, 2022.