WATCH: Hunt for "new voices" to stimulate climate change chats

Sunday 07 February 2021

The founders of Plastic Free Jersey are on the hunt for 100 “new voices” to learn about climate change and start conversations on the subject with their families, friends and colleagues.

Campaigners Sheena Brockie and Linzi Hawkin have produced a guide that translates climate science into “language that we can all understand” and will run 90-minute workshops in nature to give participants the tools they need to get started.

Sheena explained that the idea behind the ‘Climate Guides’ came from the realisation that she and Linzi always talked to the same people about the issue. 

“Some of the people that we are talking to do already engage with climate change,” she said. “We are wanting to speak to new people and we are trying to reach the people you would not normally reach. We want diverse people.”

Video: The Climate Guides is for anyone who is not already involved in the conversation about climate change.

The project also aims to simplify the conversation about climate change, which is sometimes made “more complex than it really needs to be”, using their guides, which will also include useful tips on how best to frame a conversation about climate change.  

It also features a map showing some of the initiatives already happening in Jersey to adapt to and mitigate against climate change.  

The pair are now launching an appeal to 100 islanders who love to talk. 

“You don’t need any knowledge of climate change or environmental issues - just a good dose of curiosity and a commitment to spark conversations with your friends, family, co-workers and community,” they said.

Pictured: It is hoped the 100 participants will then go into their community to discuss the issue with their kids, customers or students.

The participants will be taken out in nature in groups of eight by Linzi and Sheena who will explain aspects they need to understand to talk about the issue and how to speak to climate change deniers for example.  

They hope that those 100 islanders will then go into their community to discuss the issue with their kids, customers or students. 

In the long term, it is hoped the project will encourage more islanders to engaged with the issue and change their habits. 

“We want this to be the starting point for people to get engaged because they are more likely to understand their impact and the part they have to play in reducing it."

Pictured: Sheena and Linzi will be taking group of participants out in nature to discuss climate change.

Meanwhile, the Government this week launched 'Jersey’s Climate Conversation', an island-wide discussion on how Jersey should tackle climate change. 

As part of the launch, 9,000 households have randomly been sent an invitation to join the Climate Change Citizens’ Assembly, which will meet for two months from the 13 March.