Breaking the climate spiral of silence: lessons from a COP26 climate conversations campaign

Abstract Conversations about climate change are crucially important for mobilizing action, as well processing emotions and finding meaning in times of crisis. However, limited guidance exists on how to successfully facilitate these discussions, especially among individuals with a wide range beliefs, knowledge levels, opinions change. Here, we describe the Talk Climate Change project — an Oxford University student-led conversation campaign associated 2021 United Nations COP26 meeting. Over 1000 across 40 countries held climate-related discussions. They then described their discussions submissions interactive map ( www.talkclimatechange.org ), along messages COP26. We reflect campaign’s outcomes offer advice overcoming barriers effective dialogue; handle emotional responses; other considerations catalyzing meaningful productive call stronger focus training conversational skills, providing context-specific discussion resources, empowering diverse people have conversations families, friends, coworkers, communities.