Climate psychology in cartoons: clues for solving the messaging mystery

By Jonathan Hiskes

Point 2: All climate activism is local

New York water rise cartoon. Illustration courtesy Ian Webster/CRED

Consider the framing carefully, remembering that local appeals are powerful. CRED’s research suggest New Yorkers will care more about sea-level rise that floods their subway tunnels than sea-level rise that floods farmland in Bangladesh. Forget moral purity for a moment—this is about finding appeals that work.

Jonathan Hiskes writes about clean tech, green innovation, and the built environment as the Pacific Northwest correspondent for Sustainable Industries. He was formerly a Grist staff writer. You can find his latest work here, his best clips here, and his ramblings on Twitter.

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