Archive for the ‘Global Warming’ Category

Rumors are flying that a forthcoming environmental survey/research piece on language will recommend that we move away from the terms “global warming” AND “climate change” and embrace some new catchphrase like “our deteriorating atmosphere.” The New York Times summarizes the researchers’ views on “global warming” as follows:

The term turns people off, fostering images of shaggy-haired liberals, economic sacrifice and complex scientific disputes, according to extensive polling and focus group sessions conducted by ecoAmerica, a nonprofit environmental marketing and messaging firm in Washington.

From their website, EcoAmerica seems like a credible outfit. And I’m an open-minded guy. But I’ll need a lot of convincing before I would endorse ditching the term “global warming” in favor of some new phrase. Here’s why:

First, Google Trends leaves little doubt that “global warming” is the term that everyday citizens are more likely to have on the tip of their tongue. There have consistently been way more Google searches for “global warming” than “climate change” as far back as the data trail goes. Although the issue has lost some steam since the Inconvenient Truth heyday, it’s trending back up since the start of this year. For kicks, I threw in “our deteriorating atmosphere,” turning up absolutely nada.

Second, that bit about the “shaggy haired liberals” doesn’t phase me a bit. Some “people” don’t like you or what you stand for. They are eager to concoct some kind of objection to what you want, and will go out of your way to find reasons to be nasty to and about you.

So what? There’s actually not that many of them, and trying to win them over  is a big giant waste of time.

The Water Words That Work method is about motivating those who pay lip-service to our cause — but don’t actually do much. There’s a LOT of people like that out there. And at least according to the environmental surveys and focus groups in my collection, those people think that “global warming” is concrete and pretty scary and “climate change” sounds rather abstract.

So EcoAmerica — let’s see what you got! Looking forward to reading your report directly —  instead of as summarized by the New York Times.

Thanks A.P and K.H!

Photo courtesy AZRAINMAN via Flickr

Put yourself in hot water with this job — a coalition of national environmental groups, working together to try prevent the planet from overheating, is seeking a communications manager. This person’s job is to help coordinate the groups’ communications efforts. It’s a part-time contractor gig for now, they say they need somebody for about 25 hours per week. The hourly rates are probably pretty good.

Drop me a note at eric dot eckl at waterwordsthatwork.com. I’ll pass your interest on to the right person. And if you get the gig, tell them that “climate change” is weaker language than “global warming.”

The Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper needs your help! They’re trying to stop a bunch of new coal-fired power plants from being built on the banks of their beloved rivers — plants that would spew carbon dioxide and mercury into the environment. They’ve got a shot at beating those dreadful things back if they can prove to the authorities that there’s too much mercury in the river already.

The group has its sights set on a $10,000 grant from Miller-Coors and River Network, all they need is a few more votes to carry them over the top. From you! They’ll use the money to collect fish from various sites around the river and measure the amount of mercury in their bodies, proving once and for all that those coal plants don’t belong along the river.

Click here to vote for Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper! Polls close soon, so do it now!

Yes, yes. Full disclosure. All the groups competing for the grant are worthy, but Ogeechee-Canoochee Riverkeeper is my client.

A simple and delightful PSA produced by the UNC School of Journalism. It’s cute and effective — our hero does the right thing for the environment and gets rewarded with social approval.

Hat tip to the North Carolina Conservation Network blog for spotting this one.