This summer’s extreme climate events—wildfires, water shortages, and school disruptions—have brought the climate crisis closer to home for many Britons, creating a rare moment for policymakers to connect with the public on urgent preparedness. Yet with public trust in institutions declining, experts argue that grassroots, community-led action may prove more effective in driving meaningful change than top-down messaging. The UN’s climate chief has dismissed the idea of climate policy as a divisive political issue, framing it instead as an undeniable reality demanding collective action. As the immediate impacts of drought fade, the challenge remains: how to sustain public engagement when attention wanes.
As trust in institutions wavers, experts say local, collective action is more effective in driving changeWildfires, excess deaths, hosepipe bans, school closures: this summer many British people have experienced the often devastating effects of the climate crisis in ways they had not before. In that sense, policymakers and climate experts have a unique opportunity to engage with the public about what needs to happen to better prepare the country for the years ahead. But as trust in institutions wavers – and yellowed, drought-stricken grass begins to recover – can the messaging cut through?This week, reflecting on a summer as “hot as hell”, the UN’s head of climate, Simon Stiell, said: “Climate is sometimes seen as a partisan issue, as territory in the culture wars. That is palpably false.” Continue reading...
