Step 1. get someone to read this Climate Change conversation catalyst
In winter 2024, the outback town of Oodnadatta, Australia recorded temperatures of 38.5°C and 39.4°C which were about 16 degrees above average. On 22 July 2024, the daily global average temperature reached a new record high at 17.16°C. The previous record of 17.09°C was set one day before on 21 July 2024. And 17.08°C was set a year earlier on 6 July 2023. Extreme weather is wreaking havoc on communities and economies across the world. Over the summers of 2022 and 2023 the ice around Antarctica retreated further than ever before. Scientists say the outlook for humanity is worse than generally understood. Let’s talk about how we feel facing the enormity of climate change and what we are and/or can do about it.
Step 2: how does hearing that make everyone feel?
Go around each person in turn and get their feelings associated with the Convo Catalyst… with NO interruptions, responses or comments from anyone else.
NOTE: feelings are often described by short, simple words e.g. I feel sad, happy, hungry, annoyed, excited. They are emotions and what we feel deep in our bodies.
Step 3: what are everyone’s thoughts?
Go around in turn again and get each person to share their thoughts associated with the Convo Catalyst… again with NO interruptions, responses or comments from anyone else.
NOTES: thoughts are often ways to explain a feeling e.g. I’m feeling sad because my dog died; I’m feeling happy because it’s my birthday; I’m feeling angry because someone cut me off in traffic; I’m feeling hungry because I missed dinner
Step 4: Go around the group again and ask questions of others.
Get each person to ask questions of others… being curious about what others have said. Ask questions that are less about what they said and more about WHY they said it e.g. why do you hold that belief?
Step 5: Open the floor to random free-flowing discussion
And amidst the discussion… get everyone to agree on a summary of the conversation!