Speaking to Others' Climate Values
When talking about climate change, it’s tempting to rely on facts, figures, and the reasons you care. You might feel the urgency or have your own values (like protecting nature) that drive you. However, other people’s motivations can vary greatly. What moves you might not move them – and assuming it will can backfire.
Research and experience show that facts alone usually aren’t enough to change someone’s mind. If we speak only from our own perspective, we risk overlooking the other person’s genuine concerns. Imagine passionately citing scientific data to someone who is more worried about jobs or fairness – the data might not resonate because it’s not connecting to what they hold dear. People tend to listen more openly when they feel their values are respected and heard.
That’s why focusing on values is so powerful in climate conversations. Values shape how each of us sees the world and decides what’s important. By framing climate action in terms of something the other person already cares about, you make it personally meaningful to them. In other words, rather than trying to instill a brand-new concern, you link climate change to their existing priorities – whether that’s family, fairness, freedom, or something else. This approach isn’t about manipulation; it’s about finding common ground and genuine connections.
Above all, don’t guess – ask and listen. Everyone has a unique mix of values. Take time to learn what matters to the person you’re speaking with. Do they talk a lot about caring for others? Do they emphasize loyalty to their community or faith? Do they often mention economics and practical outcomes? These clues help you figure out which value frame might resonate. Once you know what they care about, you can frame climate change in a way that aligns with those values.
The sections below cover seven common value frames people hold: Care & Compassion, Fairness & Justice, Loyalty & Community, Respect for Authority, Sanctity & Purity, Liberty & Freedom, and Pragmatism. For each, we’ll discuss how to connect climate change to that value, with examples of what you might say. Remember, most people hold several of these values, not just one – so you can mix and match approaches. The goal is to speak with someone’s values, not against them.
Care & Compassion
People who prioritize care and compassion are motivated by empathy and preventing harm. These are folks who feel deeply when others are suffering. They might be parents concerned about their kids’ well-being, health care workers devoted to patients, or just compassionate individuals who hate to see anyone (or even animals and nature) in pain. For them, climate change can be made relevant as a human issue: it’s not just polar bears or abstract data, but people’s lives and health that are at stake.
When speaking to someone with a compassion-driven outlook, connect climate action to empathy, safety, and well-being. Instead of focusing on parts-per-million of CO₂, you might talk about how climate change affects vulnerable communities, children, or future generations. For example, extreme heat waves aren’t just about a thermometer reading – they can lead to heatstroke in the elderly and make it harder for kids to play outside in the summer. Likewise, increasing wildfires or floods can destroy homes and uproot families. Frame climate solutions as a way to protect people from harm and alleviate suffering. This aligns climate action with the person’s existing desire to help and care for others.
One effective approach is to share personal stories or concrete examples that tug at the heart. You might mention a local family whose home was flooded in a record storm, or the farmer who lost crops during a drought. Emphasize how addressing climate change can prevent such hardship. It’s important to do this in a hopeful, empowering way – the goal is to inspire care, not overwhelm with doom. For instance, highlight how helping communities install early warning systems for hurricanes or supporting renewable energy can save lives. Show that climate action is essentially an act of kindness and protection.
For example, imagine a friend says they don’t see why climate change matters compared to immediate concerns like keeping their kids safe. You could gently point out that climate solutions are part of keeping their kids safe:
“Reducing emissions isn’t just about the planet — it’s about protecting our kids and communities from harm and suffering.”
In this simple statement, you’re framing cutting emissions as a way to shield the people we love (kids, communities) from injury and pain. A compassion-driven person can immediately relate because it appeals to their drive to nurture and protect. You might follow up by talking about clean air or safe neighborhoods: “For me, supporting climate action is really about caring for my family’s health and our neighbors. I want a world where no one has to suffer from things like extreme heat or pollution.” By linking climate change to human well-being, you help the other person see it not as a distant environmental issue, but as a direct extension of their compassion for others.
Fairness & Justice
This frame emphasizes equality, fairness, and justice for all. People who hold fairness and justice as core values care deeply about things like equal opportunity, doing the right thing, and standing up for the underdog. They might be concerned with social justice issues, equity, or making sure that no group of people is unfairly burdened. Climate change can be a powerful issue for them when framed as a matter of fairness – everyone deserves a safe and healthy environment.
To speak to this value, highlight how climate action is about protecting everyone’s rights and ensuring equity. Climate change often hits some groups harder than others, and that’s fundamentally unfair. You can point out realities like: low-income neighborhoods and communities of color tend to suffer more from pollution and have fewer resources to adapt to climate impacts. Around the world, countries that have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions (often poorer nations) are facing the worst effects, like stronger storms and rising sea levels. Bringing up these disparities appeals to a sense of justice: it’s simply not right that some people bear a heavier load of the climate crisis than others.
When talking to someone who values fairness, you might say climate change is the great equalizer in the sense that we all deserve clean air, clean water, and a livable climate, not just the wealthy or the lucky. Emphasize solutions that have justice at their core – for instance, making sure that the transition to renewable energy benefits all communities, or that workers from polluting industries get support and new opportunities in a green economy. This shows that you’re concerned about just outcomes. It can also be effective to mention fairness to future generations: what obligations do we have to our children and grandchildren? Most people would agree it’s unfair to leave them a damaged planet.
Practical example: suppose you’re discussing climate with someone who often talks about social issues or who has a strong sense of right and wrong. You could frame your argument like this:
“Taking climate action ensures fairness – everyone deserves clean air, clean water, and a safe environment, not just those who can afford it.”
Such a statement zeroes in on equity. It says clearly: rich or poor, present or future, we all have the right to basic environmental safety. By mentioning “not just those who can afford it,” you acknowledge economic inequalities, which a justice-minded person will appreciate. This could lead to a deeper conversation about environmental justice, like how wealthier communities sometimes have an easier time recovering from disasters or can pay for protections, whereas marginalized communities suffer more. You could add, “I support things like solar panels in low-income neighborhoods and stronger protections against pollution in all parts of town. It’s about fairness – nobody should be left behind just because they don’t have money or power.”
Connecting climate change to fairness and justice turns it from a scientific issue into a moral issue about righting wrongs and protecting the vulnerable. This framing can inspire people who might otherwise feel disconnected from “green” issues to see climate action as part of fighting for justice.
Loyalty & Community
Loyalty and community values center on solidarity, patriotism, and belonging. People with this frame value standing by their family, tribe, town, or country. They feel a strong sense of duty to the groups they identify with and pride in those communities. This could include loyalty to a nation (patriotism), to a local community (neighbors supporting neighbors), or even to a group like a church or organization. The key motivator here is “taking care of our own” and preserving the strength and unity of the group.
To connect with someone’s loyalty and community values, you should link climate solutions to community pride and solidarity. Climate change might initially seem global and impersonal, but you can make it local and group-oriented. For example, talk about protecting our hometown from flooding, or ensuring our children (in the community) have a safe future. Emphasize working together against a common threat. People with strong community loyalty can get behind a cause if they see their people uniting for it. Climate action, in this light, becomes akin to any other community effort – like volunteering for a local charity or supporting the local economy – it’s something we do because we care about our group.
Patriotism can also be a powerful aspect of this frame. You might appeal to national pride: for instance, “America has always been about ingenuity and leadership – we can lead the world in clean energy” or “Protecting our country’s beautiful landscapes and resources is a patriotic duty.” The idea is to cast climate action as standing up for your home and your people. During wars or crises, communities pull together; similarly, responding to climate challenges can be framed as the community rallying to protect itself. You can also mention future generations of the community – many people feel loyalty not just to those alive now, but to their children and grandchildren who will inherit the community legacy.
If you know someone who is very proud of their city or loyal to their community, you might approach climate change like this:
“Protecting our environment is about protecting and standing up for our community. Taking action against climate change means standing together for future generations.”
Here, you’re using words like “protecting,” “standing up for,” and “standing together,” which invoke unity and loyalty. You frame climate action as a way of showing devotion to the community and solidarity with each other. An example scenario could be: you’re at a town meeting about installing a flood barrier or a wind farm. A neighbor might be skeptical of the need. You could respond, “We take care of each other in this town. If we know that building this wind farm will make our community more self-reliant and our air cleaner, then I think supporting it is just another way to look out for one another.” This kind of appeal says we’re all in this together.
Another angle is to share stories of communities that have successfully come together on climate initiatives – like a town that collectively decided to plant trees or a neighborhood that helped install solar panels on the local school. These examples can stir pride: “If they can do it, so can we. We don’t let our community fall behind.” By framing climate action as an expression of loyalty, you help people see it as part of defending and celebrating their group, rather than some outside agenda.
Respect for Authority
Some people are strongly guided by respect for authority, tradition, and order. They place trust in established institutions, leaders, or customs. These might be individuals who value law and order, who uphold cultural or religious traditions, or who defer to experts and elders. For them, an argument carries weight if it’s backed by a trusted authority or aligns with longstanding tradition. In the context of climate change, a person with this value set might be skeptical if they perceive climate activism as chaotic or coming from unfamiliar sources – but they could be swayed if respected leaders endorse climate action or if it’s presented as part of a tradition of stewardship.
To speak to those who value respect for authority, appeal to trusted authorities, experts, and respected leaders who support climate action. There are many authoritative voices on climate change. For example, almost every major scientific body (like NASA or the National Academy of Sciences) agrees that climate change is real and a serious threat. The military – one of the most traditionally respected institutions – has called climate change a “threat multiplier” for national security. Many religious leaders, including Pope Francis, have urged taking care of creation (the Earth) as a moral duty. And there are historical or cultural traditions of living in harmony with nature – think of how our grandparents practiced frugality and avoided waste, or how indigenous traditions emphasize caring for the land. By pointing to these sources, you show that climate action isn’t a radical new idea; it’s supported by established knowledge and principles.
When you have a conversation with someone who trusts authority, you might incorporate references to those authorities. For instance, if you’re talking with a family elder or a mentor figure who is skeptical about climate science, you could say: “I know it’s hard to sort out what’s true, but the experts — like our national science academies and even the military — are very clear that this is a serious issue. In fact, the Department of Defense calls climate change a big security risk.” By doing this, you’re not relying on your personal opinion; you’re bringing respected voices into the room.
You can also frame climate action as respecting the wisdom of past generations. For example, many cultures have proverbs or teachings about taking care of the Earth (think “leave the campground cleaner than you found it” or “waste not, want not”). You could remind the person that addressing climate change is in line with the values our parents and grandparents taught us about responsibility. This turns climate responsibility into a continuation of tradition rather than a break from it.
Consider an example phrase that encapsulates this approach:
“Climate action respects the wisdom of experts, trusted institutions, and our traditions of stewardship. It’s about listening to respected leaders who care deeply about our future.”
In this statement, you directly tie taking action to respect for authority and tradition: we do it because wise experts and leaders (whom we trust) say it’s important, and because it fits our long-standing tradition of caring for the land and each other. You might find this resonates with someone who values order and trustworthiness – it assures them that moving toward solutions like renewable energy or emission cuts isn’t haphazard, but rather endorsed by pillars of stability in society.
If appropriate, you could even use a bit of deference in your tone, e.g., “I take this issue seriously because I respect what our top scientists and leaders have warned us about. They’ve studied it in depth, and I trust their guidance that we need to act.” By aligning climate conversation with respect for authority, you help authoritative-minded individuals feel that supporting climate solutions is actually a way of honoring and following guidance from the best sources – not rejecting them.
Sanctity & Purity
This frame values purity, sacredness, and respect for the natural order. People who resonate with sanctity and purity often see the world in terms of clean vs. polluted, sacred vs. profane. They might have religious or spiritual convictions about the sanctity of life and creation, or they might just have a strong intuitive disgust for pollution and destruction of nature. Words like “pure,” “clean,” “sacred,” “untainted,” or “natural” carry weight with this audience. For them, the environment can be framed not just as a resource, but as something precious and even holy that must be protected.
When speaking to sanctity/purity values, highlight our moral responsibility to keep the environment clean and intact. You can talk about the Earth or nature as something sacred – for religious folks, it could be God’s creation entrusted to us; for others, it might be the awe-inspiring beauty of a forest or ocean that deserves reverence. Emphasize that pollution and rampant consumption “poison” or “defile” this purity. Climate change, driven largely by pollution (excess carbon, deforestation, etc.), can be described as violating the natural balance. Conversely, climate action becomes a way to restore or preserve purity and sacredness. For example, switching to clean energy means less toxic pollution in the air and water – essentially, keeping our world cleaner.
You might also use language around health and purity: climate solutions lead to cleaner air, pure water, and preservation of untouched wilderness. If someone is troubled by, say, the idea of toxins in their food or chemicals in the water, you can relate that feeling to the climate conversation. Explain that fossil fuel pollution doesn’t just warm the planet, but also releases particles that dirty the air and harm our bodies. Thus, fighting climate change also means keeping our communities pure and safe from contamination.
Here’s a possible way to express this perspective:
“Our planet is sacred. Acting on climate change helps protect the beauty and purity of nature for ourselves and future generations.”
This phrasing explicitly uses the sanctity frame: calling the planet sacred and talking about the purity of nature. It suggests that by taking action (like cutting pollution or preserving forests), we are fulfilling a kind of sacred duty to maintain the planet’s holiness and cleanliness. To someone who holds purity dear, this can be a compelling argument. It’s saying: climate action isn’t just practical, it’s morally right and clean.
You might follow up with concrete examples or questions: “Don’t you feel outraged when you see a beautiful river polluted with trash or oil? I do. Climate change is causing damage on an even bigger scale – it’s like we’re polluting the very atmosphere. I think we have a responsibility to keep Earth clean and whole.” If the person has religious leanings, you could reference their faith gently: “Many faiths teach that creation is a gift. When we protect the Earth, we honor that gift.” If they’re not religious but value purity, focus on natural beauty: “I love how pristine the mountains look on a clear day. By cutting down on pollution, we can have more days like that, and ensure our wild places stay wild and pure.”
By framing climate change as a threat to the sanctity of our environment and climate action as an act of purification and respect, you speak to that deep instinct to keep what’s sacred from being defiled. It taps into a sense of holiness or just plain cleanliness that can motivate action in people who might otherwise shy away from environmental topics.
Liberty & Freedom
Liberty and freedom values emphasize personal freedom, autonomy, and resisting undue control or oppression. Individuals who hold liberty dear are very sensitive to anything that might infringe on their rights or the rights of others. They value independence – being able to make their own choices and not be overly reliant on authority or outside forces. In political terms, they might prioritize free markets and personal responsibility. At first glance, some may see climate change action as a threat to freedom (perhaps thinking of regulations or restrictions). However, you can frame climate solutions as a way to enhance freedom and independence if presented thoughtfully.
To speak to liberty values, connect climate solutions to independence, self-sufficiency, and empowerment. For example, renewable energy like solar panels and home batteries can be pitched as a path to energy independence – freeing individuals from reliance on big utility companies or foreign oil. Driving an electric car and producing your own electricity could mean more freedom in the long run (less money spent on gas, less worry about price spikes, and no need to depend on oil from unstable regions). Emphasize how innovation in clean energy can democratize power (literally and figuratively) by putting power production in the hands of the people.
Another angle is freedom from the threats posed by climate change itself. For instance, consider how climate disasters can rob communities of their freedom to live as they choose: a wildfire can force people out of their homes, or a drought can threaten a farmer’s independence. By acting on climate change, we aim to reduce these catastrophic events and protect people’s ability to live freely and securely. You can also frame climate action as a way to preserve our way of life against disruption – essentially, defending freedom against the instability that unchecked climate change would bring.
It’s also effective to mention pushing back against powerful interests that don’t have our values at heart. A person skeptical of climate action might still agree that no one likes being dependent on huge corporations or hostile nations for energy. Climate solutions can cut those ties. In the U.S., for example, increasing renewable energy and electric vehicles can reduce dependence on oil imports and give Americans more control over their energy. This is an argument about sovereignty and autonomy that liberty-minded people can appreciate.
Consider this statement tailored to liberty values:
“Investing in renewable energy promotes our freedom — it frees us from reliance on unstable resources and dependence on entities that don’t share our values.”
Notice how this example highlights freedom from something: freedom from unstable resources (like oil prone to price shocks or scarcity) and from entities not sharing our values (perhaps foreign governments or even domestic utility monopolies). It casts climate-friendly choices as a way to liberate ourselves from external control.
You could imagine a conversation with a friend who’s wary of climate policies: they might say, “I don’t like the government telling me what car to drive or how to heat my home.” A values-based reply might be: “I get that – freedom is really important to me too. That’s actually why I’m excited about things like solar panels and electric cars. They’re giving power to individuals. If I can generate my own electricity on my roof, I’m less dependent on big companies. It’s about choice and control over my own life, which is exactly what we want, right?” This approach finds common ground on the importance of freedom, then shows that climate solutions can increase personal freedom, not just impose rules.
By framing climate action as pro-liberty, you turn a potential conflict into an alliance: we both care about freedom, so let’s find climate answers that uphold that freedom. It shifts the narrative from “fighting climate change means sacrificing freedom” to “fighting climate change is how we safeguard our freedom from bigger threats and dependencies.” That reframing can open the door to more productive discussions with liberty-oriented folks.
Pragmatism
Pragmatism is all about what’s practical, efficient, and cost-effective. People with a strongly pragmatic outlook may not get swayed by moral or emotional appeals, but they perk up when you talk about solutions that just make sense in dollars and cents or in plain problem-solving terms. These are the “get it done” types or the ones who ask “what’s the bottom line?” They value common-sense approaches, efficiency, and tend to support actions that have clear, tangible benefits. Importantly, a pragmatist might say: “Even if climate change weren’t an issue, would this action still be smart?” – if yes, then it’s worth doing anyway.
To connect with a pragmatic mindset, emphasize practical benefits, economic gains, and long-term stability that come from addressing climate change. There are plenty of such points: for instance, renewable energy is increasingly cheap – in many places, solar and wind power are now the lowest-cost electricity sources. Energy efficiency (like better insulation, LED lighting, efficient appliances) saves money on utility bills. Preparing for climate impacts (like reinforcing infrastructure against floods) can save huge costs later on in disaster recovery. You can mention job creation too: the clean energy sector is a growing source of jobs, often outpacing fossil fuel industries. Essentially, frame climate action as a wise investment and a commonsense precaution.
Avoid heavy moralizing or abstract future fears with pragmatists; instead, use a bottom-line approach. For example, “Whether or not you’re passionate about polar bears, investing in clean energy is simply a good business move. It’s where the growth is, and it’s cheaper in the long run.” You could also compare it to an insurance policy: “We buy home insurance not because we’re sure our house will burn down, but just in case – it’s the sensible thing. Cutting emissions is like an insurance policy for the planet: if we act now, we greatly reduce the risk of really expensive damage later.” These analogies make the action seem prudent and non-ideological.
Here’s a concise way to capture the pragmatic case:
“Tackling climate change is good business. It saves money, creates jobs, and ensures long-term economic stability.”
This statement hits the key pragmatic points: economic savings, job creation, and stability. To someone driven by practical results, this can be more convincing than any amount of emotional appeal about future generations or moral duty. They hear “saves money” and “creates jobs” — who wouldn’t want that? It frames climate initiatives as win-win solutions rather than sacrifices.
In conversation, you might bring up real-world examples: “Did you know that the wind farm outside town is paying dividends to the county? Our taxes are lower because of that project – it’s actually been great for the budget.” Or, “Ever notice how much cooler it is inside stores that have those white roofs? That’s a climate solution too, and it cuts their air conditioning costs.” Pointing out everyday benefits can make climate strategies feel like no-brainers.
Another approach: highlight competition and innovation. “Countries that invest in clean tech are going to lead the 21st-century economy. I want us to be ahead of the curve, not left behind using outdated tech.” This appeals to a practical desire to be competitive and forward-thinking. It’s not about ideology; it’s about smart planning.
By the end of a pragmatically framed discussion, the ideal is that even if someone isn’t emotionally invested in climate change, they’ll think, “Well, it just makes practical sense to support these solutions.” You’ve shown that climate action is basically common sense and good management — the kind of thing anyone can get behind because it works.
Conclusion: One Planet, Many Values
No matter what mix of values a person holds, we all share one planet. The beauty of values-based conversations is that they remind us we have common goals, even if we arrive at them through different beliefs. At the end of the day, whether we’re motivated by compassion, fairness, loyalty, authority, purity, freedom, or pragmatism, we likely all want a safe, thriving world for ourselves and those we care about.
By understanding and speaking to the values of others, we can motivate meaningful climate action without pushing anyone to abandon their identity or priorities. Instead of arguing over who is “right,” we focus on where we agree: we want healthy families, just communities, strong and secure societies, unpolluted nature, personal liberties, and sensible choices that lead to prosperity. Climate solutions can be framed to satisfy all of these values. For example, a single project – say, a community solar farm – can be talked about as caring for neighbors (compassion), sharing clean air (justice), a town achievement (community), backed by experts and leaders (authority), keeping the land untainted (purity), giving locals control over energy (freedom), and saving money on electricity (pragmatism). It’s all about perspective!
In a world of diverse viewpoints, focusing on values lets us embrace our shared goals. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we can rally around protecting our common home in ways that honor what each of us holds dear. Climate change is a big challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to come together. If we engage others with empathy and respect – listening as much as talking – we build trust and find that sweet spot where their values and climate action intersect.
One planet, many values – one shared future. By tapping into empathy, justice, community, authority, sacredness, liberty, and pragmatism, we can inspire a collective response to the climate crisis. Each conversation, tailored with respect to what matters most to someone, is a step toward that unified effort. We’re all in this together, and together, by meeting people where they are, we can ignite the hope and resolve needed to protect our world for generations to come.
