From Science to Storytelling

Communicating Climate Change

Alison PerrinClimate Change Information AnalystNorthern Climate ExChangeYukon Research Centre

Northern Climate ExChangeYukon Research Centre, Yukon College

NCE has provided a range of climate change services to Yukon since 2000, related to:

• Adaptation (community climate change adaptation plans, vulnerability assessments, hazard mapping, and mainstreaming…)

• Mitigation (Whitehorse Green Guide, Advisor for YG Climate Change Action Plan and emission targets…)

• Education and outreach (Climate Change for Decision Makers, online newsletter distributed across Canada, lecture series…)

• Climate Change Information and Mainstreaming Program (provide information and recommendations to decision makers)

The story of climate change

credit: Joel Pett, USA Today, CartoonArts International

Changing the story

CHALLENGES• Science focus

• Sensationalism

• Fear mongering

• Spokespeople

• The blame game

CHANGING THE STORY• Human connection

• Relevance

• Accessible science

• Spokespeople

• Solutions

Photo credit: NASA

Why should I share? The bigger picture Connect with stakeholders Share the northern story Achieve a goal Publish or perish (or is it

publicize or perish)

Bringing science to life

• The storyteller

• Beginning the story

• Building the plot

• The cliffhanger ending

The art of storytelling

Bringing science to life

Pitfalls and opportunities

WHERE CAN WE GO WRONG? Mired in the details Advocacy/political agenda Jargon Making assumptions

What’s next?

How we can promote communication within our Yukon science community and to the Yukon public?