How does MEDIA control the climate change narrative? We need to talk about eco-anxiety

About the Episode

In the second episode of season two, We Need to Talk about Eco-Anxiety, Clover discerns how our media has shaped the climate narrative in the past, and how we can leverage it to accelerate climate action.

First up, Clover speaks with filmmaker and fellow climate activist, Jack Harries, about what ‘woke’ him up to the climate crisis and why, in his words, it’s been the ‘story we failed to tell.’ We then hear from young people around the world sharing how media impacts their eco-anxiety; our resident psychotherapist, Caroline Hickman, on how to navigate these climate emotions; and finally the President of the New York Times, Stephan Dunbar-Smith, on how legacy media should step up to communicate the climate crisis.

Top Quotes

"If we look at the climate story over the last 30 - 40 years very often it has focused on doom and gloom, and denial. We have failed to communicate the human impact. Which is a shame because, as people, we are moved by human stories. If we instead said that in 30-40 years they'll be food shortages and crops will fail en masse, suddenly that animal instinct within us wakes up. In many ways, climate change is the story we failed to tell." - Jack Harries

"We have to give people the honour of telling them the truth about the climate crisis." - Caroline Hickman

About the Guests

Jack Harries is a documentary photographer, filmmaker and activist. In 2011 he created JacksGap, a successful YouTube channel and blog that has over 4 million subscribers. Through his work, Jack raises awareness about the climate crisis, forced migration and mental health. Over the last few years, he has covered environmental stories in Greenland, Somaliland, Bhutan and Kiribati. He also serves as a World Wildlife Fund ambassador and holds an MA in Ethnography and Documentary Filmmaking from UCL.

Stephen Dunbar-Johnson is the President International of The New York Times Company. Dunbar-Johnson is responsible for the oversight and strategic development of the Times Company’s international businesses. Dunbar-Johnson was appointed president, International for The New York Times Company in October 2013 to lead the global expansion of the company.

Caroline Hickman is a psychotherapist and Climate Psychology Therapist in Education at the University of Bath. Her research specialises in children and young people's relationships with nature, and their feelings about the climate and ecological crisis.

Resources

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