What Is Climate Change Comedy?
What Is Climate Change Comedy? is now live on the Hope. Act. Thrive podcast with our special guest, Matt Winning.
Why you’ll want to listen to this episode.
“Comedy solves a lot of the problems that we have in communicating climate change,” says Dr Matt Winning, an environmental economist and stand-up comedian.
In this conversation, we’ll talk about climate change comedy, the power of humour to tackle the climate crisis, and bringing children into a changing climate.
Why we were thrilled to chat with Matt.
Dr. Matt Winning is a Senior Research Fellow in the Institute for Sustainable Resources at University College London working on climate policy, including the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change.
Matt is also a stand-up comedian who performs live climate change comedy, at festivals and comedy clubs around the UK, regularly appears on BBC Radio 4, and has a TEDx talk about the importance of using humour to discuss climate change.
His debut book HOT MESS: What On Earth Can We Do About Climate Change is out now and available in hardback, ebook, and audiobook.
Words from Matt you won’t want to miss.
“Comedy solves a lot of the problems that we have in communicating climate change. Because with comedy you have to be incredibly succinct. And then you also have to see things from other people’s points of view…and then you have to be able to surprise people.”
“We need to find other ways to talk about climate change. And to find other ways to reach new people.”
“If [people are] laughing, it stimulates parts of the brain that associate learning in a positive way. And it makes them remember things better.”
“Joking or making light of things that sit with us in a difficult way…it’s a lot easier to deal with those things.”
“What we can do as individuals is almost a journey that we all have to go on as individuals. To work out what it is that we are best at, and where we are positioned best to help, and given our set of circumstances.”
“I would change the contribution that children have - rather than not have them.”
“Doing things gives me hope. And seeing other people doing things gives me hope.”
“I’m interested in inspiring action and a sense of purpose and positivity in everyone else.”
How can you listen?
Listen to this conversation on Apple, Google or Spotify.
Find out more about Be the Future on Instagram and Twitter and your Hope. Act. Thrive. hosts Sally Giblin and Helen Hill.
