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A new comedy project combining a top comedian and a climate scientist presents a new way to communicate the climate crisis.
“If someone like me has to get involved, you know we’re in a terrible situation,” said the famous British comedian and host of “The Great British Bake Off.” says Joe Brand. why? Because she is co-author of Climate Science Translated, a project that translates complex climate science into accessible and entertaining content that inspires millions of people to take action. , joining the ranks of notable comedians such as Jonathan Pye.
Despite climate change being the greatest threat humanity has ever faced, only 2% of Americans can name a climate scientist, according to a study by the Climate Science Breakthrough Team. Just about everyone knows Joe Brand. Having famous comedians translate what climate scientists have to say in a funny, sarcastic, and often candid way makes science more approachable.
And it works. Research shows that humor can be a transformative tool in science communication and positively impact people’s understanding of climate change. So far, my video with Joe Brand has garnered him mainstream attention with over 3 million views and celebrities such as Ellie Goulding, Gary Lineker, Rainn Wilson, and Thom Yorke retweeting the video. . Each time, the core message is delivered to a wider audience.
Also, this works because comedians can do things that scientists can’t say, such as swearing. Joe asked me in a chat after recording the main movie, “Is it time for scientists to be allowed to badmouth because things are so bad?” Video clip below My answer to that question is no. Because the public expects scientists to be calm, rational, and true to the facts. As soon as we “become human” we lose trust. So Joe Brand is, in many ways, the human side of me that’s screaming at everyone to do something right now.
The video announcement caught the attention of Good Morning Britain and Joe Brand and I were invited to appear on the show. Susanna Reid asked me why I agreed to make a video with Joe Brand. My answer was simple. “Would we be on national breakfast TV discussing climate change without the great Joe Brand?”
Celebrities have access to a much wider audience than scientists. Imagine if Taylor Swift dated a climate scientist instead of an American football player.
Later that morning, TV presenters Susanna Reid and Richard Medley asked one of my questions to the UK’s environment minister, Steve Berkeley. ? ” Because the new licenses will not be operational for 10 to 15 years and will not result in any change in global costs, so consumers will still have very high energy prices.
Naturally, he dodged the question, but since I was in a comedy video, it was asked on Breakfast TV.
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Comic Relief is a great example of how effective comedy can be. In 2022, he surpassed the milestone of raising over £1.5 billion to use the power of comedy to help people around the world. It now stands out as a calendar moment in British culture.
In the world of politics, comedy has proven its power, primarily used in satirical ways to engage the public. “Spitting Image” and “The Sick of It” crystallized the essence of politics at the time in people’s minds.
Joe Brand’s participation in the climate comedy project marks a major step forward in the movement of celebrities to raise the alarm about the accelerating environmental crisis. Others include Kevin MacLeod, Mary Portas, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Chris Packham, who appeared on Channel 4’s Climate Emergency season last year. Even William Shatner, the original Captain James T. Kirk, adds his voice saying we must act now to save the planet.
This trend shows the growing urgency of the climate crisis and its recognition by different sectors of society. The blend of humor and science illuminates complex environmental issues and makes them more relatable to everyday viewers. This work highlights the influence of comedy in driving change and awareness, and provides a powerful strategy for addressing one of the most critical challenges of our time, as well as the direct action work of Just Stop Oil and other organizations. presents alternative options.
As Joe Brand says, the irony is that we have all the solutions at our fingertips. Renewable energy is cheaper, safer, cleaner, and more reliable than fossil fuels. But globally, he subsidized fossil fuel use by US$7 trillion (£5.5 trillion) in 2023, an increase of US$2 trillion on the previous year, according to the International Monetary Fund. As Brand says, “Even the dinosaurs didn’t help their own extinction.”
That’s why the comedy film calls for everyone to stand up and take action to pressure governments for urgent change, ending with a call to ban new fossil fuel investment and a rallying cry for “all hands on deck!” It ends.
At the COP28 climate summit held in the United Arab Emirates, a major oil nation, he also called for a transition away from fossil fuels. But we are not moving fast enough. And why should billions of people have to suffer just because a few people or countries are trying to make huge profits by selling fossil fuels that pollute the environment? That’s not fun.
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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Mark Maslin is UCL’s designated point of contact for the UNFCCC. He is co-director of the London NERC PhD Training His Partnership and a member of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group. He is a member of the advisory boards of the Sopra-Steria CSR Committee, Sheep Included Ltd, Lansons and NetZeroNow. He has received grants from NERC, EPSRC, ESRC, DFG, Royal Society, DIFD, BEIS, DECC, FCO, Innovate UK, Carbon Trust, UK Space Agency, European Space Agency, Research England, Wellcome Trust, Leverhulme Trust and CIFF. I am receiving it. , Sprint2020, and the British Council. He has received funding from the BBC, Lancet, Laithwaites, Seventh Generation, Channel 4, JLT Re, WWF, Hermes, CAFOD, HP and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
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