Viviana Smith/Fourth Estate

Why we need to keep speaking about climate change and its effects

BY VIVIANA SMITH, SENIOR STAFF WRITER

As of April 9, Princeton University was added to the list of schools who had research funding cut due to “exaggerated and implausible climate threats,” reported in The New York Times. Sure, talking about climate change causes “climate anxiety.” But maybe it should. 

The challenge of acknowledging the Inconvenient Truth is slightly fearful, because, if correct, we know what’ll happen to Earth in the long-run. 

This seems like peak existentialism rhetoric, but I am not suggesting you throw yourself into the deep end of fighting the climate crisis. Instead, maybe it should start with a powerful conversation. 

On Friday April 18, at the Planet Forward 2025 summit, author and environmentalist Bill McKibben, the summit’s keynote speaker, began his speech detailing the concerns and, quite frankly, the horrors of climate change. After reminding the audience about the crushing reality of Earth’s gradual troubles, he left the audience with a sliver of hope, highlighting that the real change starts with open conversations. 

McKibben mentioned a young generation of activists, who push narratives of climate advocacy that uplifts our nation’s strengths. He corrected the current perception on renewable energy, stating that it’s generally marketed as the expensive option. 

“We’ve got lodged in our minds that clean energy is ‘alternative energy…’ the Whole Foods of energy,” he joked. “It is actually the Costco of energy.” 

McKibben points out that it’s not about discussing reality, rather how we publicly convey that reality. If we can find effective methods, there’s more room for conversation and understanding. “The message, if we can get it across, will be extraordinarily useful in setting the political framework… make it more possible to change the laws,” he said.

The art of oratory and rhetoric is integral to humans. Storytelling is what we do best. This innate tool is more powerful than people realize. People have many ways of crafting an effective story while putting their unique spin on the narrative. That’s not to say we can fabricate stories for a message, but create based on facts and evidence. 

Individuals like filmmaker and photographer Alex Rubenstein make a living through environmental storytelling, serving in a unique role in the climate action movement. As a naturalist on Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, he educates guests about the beautiful world around him and snaps captivating photos.

“For me, visual environmental storytelling isn’t complete if it doesn’t also include calls to action for the viewer,” Rubenstein said. Whether in a photo, video or other medium, Rubenstein says it gives people a new perspective, regardless of distance. 

“I think visual storytelling is one of the only ways to immerse people in the wild spaces to which they normally might not have access,” he said. “Nature is healing. It’s powerful.”

Remembering our roles in this is important to the conversation. Most understand the impact of climate change and global warming on polar bears, and we connect on a shared love for animals—but when you turn the tv off or  press “skip ad,” how much does climate change matter? 

This problem is our problem, too—not just the polar bears. Our society cannot flourish without an Earth to exist on. 

More importantly, these problems can fall into the hands of the next generations. And with a government-backed push for people to create more families, the environment’s well-being should be just as important to support this “need.”

Rubenstein shared a quote from David Attenbourough, stating, “if children don’t grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it. And if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it.”

It has never been just about us. The ecosystem is a multitude of biological components working together to breathe life to continue the “circle of life.”

It’s necessary that we reform our attitudes towards climate and environment to drive inclusion in conversations. 

“While we need immediate action on all fronts, I feel [visual storytelling] is helping shift cultural perceptions of climate change,” Rubenstein concluded. “We have decades of propaganda to undo and we have to start somewhere. And we have to keep fighting together.”