We Need to Stop Talking Like Climate Change Is Partisan

This summer of disasters has shown us that climate impacts are not political, and it is past time we stopped talking about them as if they were. A flood doesn’t knock on your door and ask who you voted for in the last election before it sweeps your house away, nor does wildfire smoke distinguish between Republicans and Democrats before it chokes the air.People who raise awareness about climate change know that how you communicate your message matters, and there’s much to learn from them. We surveyed the top organizations and individuals who regularly communicate about climate change across the U.S. and Canada. Almost none said that advocating for candidates or policies was the goal of their work. Their top priority was helping people understand what’s happening and why it matters: we’ve always had heatwaves and droughts, storms, and floods—but the faster the planet warms, the worse these events get. Climate change is loading the weather dice against us, and its effects are growing. A recent study estimated that deaths caused by extreme heat are vastly under-reported. Air pollution, whether from burning fossil fuels or wildfire smoke, is responsible for a growing list of health impa...