It’s Time for the Polar Bear to Tap Out
Dear Editor,
How we communicate about climate change matters. While most U.S. adults perceive climate change as a threat, many of us feel powerless to help stop or slow it. Headlines and news stories are filled with contextless statistics, doomsday predictions, and proposed solutions that sound impossible – like getting everyone to buy electric vehicles. Then there are fancy innovations that aren’t yet scalable, like carbon capture devices, which rely on geniuses to design and billionaires to fund. But what can the average person do? How can we communicate more effectively about this serious threat in a way that spurs action instead of despair?
Science is hardly a lingua franca for most humans, but images can be powerful communicators that transcend language. The unofficial mascot of climate change, the hungry polar bear standing on a piece of ice no larger than a coffee table, causes many to feel helpless for the damage humans have already and continue to cause. While the hungry bear tugs at heartstrings, it also distances viewers from the issue. Upon seeing the ubiquitous climate change mascot, one may decide to donate money to an organization dedicated to protecting this animal or mitigating climate change, but rarely causes consequential action by individuals. It’s time for the polar bear to tap out as the embodiment of climate change. In other words, the polar bear is effective at causing guilt but fails to mobilize in a way that inspires creative energy to solve a problem that plagues the globe.
Instead, what if climate change imagery takes a more local approach? Choosing images relevant to information consumers can instantly relate to, could lead to small actions that cumulatively lead to significant change. Here in the Washington D.C. area, one of climate change’s most recognized impacts are extraordinary precipitation events that lead to flooding and heat waves. Images of local impacts of climate change can bring home this issue’s importance. Or we can take it even further and show images of climate change solutions that are scalable and within reach of the average person in this region. Don’t just tell us what to do — show us what to do! Share more photos of area residents removing English Ivy from their trees to preserve trees’ natural carbon catching superpower or planting rooftop gardens in the buildings of our urban, concrete jungle. Demonstrate impactful actions that are already helping, like infographics of public transportation ridership and corresponding carbon emission cuts, or share delectable meatless recipes that help decrease meat consumption, beef in particular, and the associated carbon emissions. Remind us of the natural treasures on our collective doorstep with trail maps and tips for responsible recreation in natural settings to help us connect with nature and align ourselves to its defense.
For the record, I love polar bears and feel responsible for finding ways to help their plight. But I also need to know what I can do here and now while we work on innovating exquisite solutions for the wicked problem a warming planet and its side effects presents. It’s time the polar bear retires and taps in the local flora and fauna to help drive home the importance of the defining challenge of our generation that threatens our health and well-being. Flood us with photos that inspire us to climate advocacy, show us that cutting greenhouse gas emissions is possible, and remind us what we’re fighting for. Our climate, and our wellbeing, depend on it!
-Nikki Droney