Yesterday’s TEDxChicago event at the Climate Action Museum delivered a powerful pairing of talks on how we can take action on climate change and keep ourselves and others around us motivated in those times.
Doug Farr started by emphasizing how hard it is to have talks about climate change. This is especially important as Thanksgiving is coming up. 60% of Americans rarely or never talk about climate change, so Farr suggested changing the way people think about it from a boring chore to an interesting task aimed at “maximizing contentment while minimizing consumption.”
The other person on the panel was Professor Ayelet Fishbach. She added to the conversation by saying that drive is something we learn, not something we lose. Her research showed that reaching goals isn’t just about how important they are; it’s also about enjoying the journey.
Important things to remember from both of their points of view:
Switch up the Framework
Farr: If you feel helpless, take action in your neighborhood.
Fishbach: Stop seeing drive as a sign of strength and start seeing it as a sign of wisdom.
Bring it to life.
Farr: Small steps (like getting electricity to homes and getting involved in your community) count.
Fishbach: Break up big goals into smaller steps.
Make a Community
The Climate Action Museum Chicago uses both of these approaches, and 75% of guests who were negative about climate change become positive climate ambassadors. Fishbach’s study shows that having supportive relationships can help you reach your goals in every situation.
In line with what both speakers said, this TEDxChicago event showed that productive conversations about climate change can focus on real-world community answers instead of political arguments. The discussions centered on personal actions, how to get involved in their community, and how to find motivation through shared goals. This showed that having a meaningful dialogue about our climate future doesn’t need partisan views.
Thank you very much to Dustin Huibregtse and the whole TEDxChicago team for putting together such an important conversation. Dustin’s natural ability to lead these important talks on stage made it possible for the audience to really understand and connect with big ideas. The TEDxChicago team keeps showing how dedicated they are to bringing life-changing ideas to our city.
This Thanksgiving, both speakers remind us that serious talks about climate change can be useful and interesting if they are framed around community solutions and shared action. People who want to learn more about these important issues in a positive, forward-looking setting can visit the Climate Action Museum at the 300 S Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606. Admissions are free! That’s a real reason to be thankful.
As proud agency partners for previous TEDxChicago events, we are continually inspired by their commitment to sharing ideas that spark meaningful change. Supporting TEDxChicago’s mission and design vision has been a privilege, and we look forward to their ongoing impact on our city and beyond.