Talking About Climate Change Could Unlock Wider Public Action

Although many people in the UK worry about climate change, most of them never talk about it. According to recent surveys, fewer than half of British people hardly or never express their thoughts on the topic in daily life. Conversations are a great approach to normalise climate change, change societal attitudes, and promote action, so this quiet counts. 

The goal is not always to persuade others to careresearch shows most people already do but rather to highlight that worry is natural and acting on it is usual. Talking about climate change helps to break social barriers, create unity, inspire hope and drive concrete actions. 

According to Climate Barometer's April 2025 poll of 2,796 British adults, 56% seldom or never voice their opinions on climate change. Just one in ten regularly do so, and this trend continues even among those who back environmental policies. Still other research give somewhat different numbers. One-third of those polled in Ireland indicated they frequently talk to friends and family about climate change. In Scotland, 39% said they talked about it at least once a week last month. 

The same pattern is seen in sports. According to research from the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations, roughly one-third of UK football fans regularly discuss climate change with friends, relatives, or coworkers; considerably less talk about it with other fans or strangers. Even if political leaning, education, and age affect how much people talk about climate problems, especially when it comes to personal ideas, the general trend is that they are rarely discussed. 

This is not caused by indifference. Surveys reveal that the majority of people are concerned about world warming, ready to implement environmentally friendly lifestyle modifications, and supportive of bold climate policies. Still, many are unaware that others share such sentiments. Almost nine out of ten people worldwide want more political action, and eight out of ten back charging oil and gas businesses to pay for climate change mitigation. In the UK, most people support policies to get to net zero and want more energy to come from renewable sources. 

People's activity is already obvious. More than 110,000 British citizens have urged a prohibition on fossil fuel advertising, and over 5,000 individuals lately gathered in Westminster for among the biggest climate lobbying activities of the decade. Rising are sales of electric vehicles, heat pump installations, and meat-free meal consumption. But if these deeds are not discussed in conversation or get scant media attention, it may give the wrong idea that others are not behaving. 

Pluralistic ignorance or perception gaps is the term for this misunderstanding whereby people mistakenly believe that others do not share their opinions or actions. Politicians also risk getting caught in this trap as they sometimes misjudge public support for policies addressing climate change. Behaviour is much influenced by social standards; people are hesitant to oppose what they consider to be the accepted viewpoint. If the expected attitude is indifference to climate change, less people will work together. 

Talking helps you break this circle of quiet. Even basic conversations help to make environmental measures more accepted and can affect conduct. Knowing someone who has put a heat pump in, for instance, increases the likelihood that others would think about buying one. By themselves, talks serve as a kind of environmental activity. 

People frequently avoid talking about climate change out of concern about political repercussions or their own ignorance. Studies reveal that good communication does not need either of these. Usually the most reliable messengers, friends and family are more likely to be listened to from someone with common interests or experiences. Research on promoting meat reduction, for instance, found that knowing something well made people more open to ideas. 

Most effective are initiatives aimed at the majority of people who are already worried but unsure of what to do. Interacting with actual climate deniers is less effective since strong pre-existing views usually oppose transformation. Start with close friends or relatives where there is already trust and shared background. Local councillors or members of parliament may also be contacted by citizens to voice support for more robust policies as data suggests politicians take note of constituent opinion.

Finding a shared interest can facilitate discussion. For example, you could just speak to a friend who likes to cook about the possibility of trying more plant-based recipes. Generally, climate-related themes that bond us to one another tend to include the enhancement of public health, enhancing local communities, protecting future generations, existing in balance with nature, and reducing waste. Another easy point of departure is to reference personal experiences with extreme weather, such as warm days, flooding or storms, especially in those countries where talking about the weather is common.

The goal, here, is to keep the talk enjoyable and relatable (instead of confrontational). Adding personal stories, focusing on plausible solutions, and highlighting the positive impacts can help sustain the conversation. By asserting that climate action is normative and productive in everyday life, it becomes much easier for someone to embrace it for themselves.

Discussing climate change is often viewed as a last resort solution, but can instead be viewed as a simple way to enact change in behaviours and perceptions. It provides comfort that we are not alone in our concern, instills information and optimism about collective action, and empowers us to think more broadly about change, and not just individual behaviours. Anyone can be a voice or ask a question - there is incredible power in even the smallest of conversations - many conversations, can lead to transformative action.

Climate impacts are already visible and there is abundant public sentiment for action; where challenging climate action is at, is in perceptions and communication. By growing that space and closing the gap with consistent open discussions, communities can amplify a collective effort that can put pressure on key decision-makers and get us one step closer to a reliable pathway to a truly sustainable future.