Storm Desmond: Who wants to talk about climate change at a time like this?

The document addresses the challenge of communicating climate change during the aftermath of Storm Desmond in the UK. It argues that while immediate human tragedy takes priority, it is scientifically appropriate and necessary to link extreme rainfall to climate change to avoid 'starting from scratch' after every disaster. Based on a workshop with experts from Cardiff University and the ESRC, the text suggests that 'trusted peers' are the most effective messengers for affected communities and emphasizes the need to invest in 'social infrastructure' and climate literacy before disasters occur to build long-term resilience.

• Scientists are now better equipped to quantify the relationship between specific weather events and climate change, making it appropriate to discuss these links from a scientific perspective.
• The general public is increasingly recognizing the connection between flooding events and broader climate issues.
• Effective engagement with flood-affected communities should be led by 'trusted peers' rather than local authorities or outside campaigners to avoid appearing insensitive or lecturing.
• To prevent psychological and financial damage, the UK must invest in 'social infrastructure' to increase climate literacy and hold conversations about climate change before disasters strike, rather than after.

APA

Corner, A. (2015). Storm Desmond: Who wants to talk about climate change at a time like this? Climate Outreach. https://climateoutreach.org/storm-desmond-who-wants-to-talk-about-climate-change-at-a-time-like-this/

Chicago

Corner, Adam. Storm Desmond: Who wants to talk about climate change at a time like this? Climate Outreach, 2015. https://climateoutreach.org/storm-desmond-who-wants-to-talk-about-climate-change-at-a-time-like-this/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Corner |first1=Adam |title=Storm Desmond: Who wants to talk about climate change at a time like this? |publisher=Climate Outreach |date=8 December 2015 |url=https://climateoutreach.org/storm-desmond-who-wants-to-talk-about-climate-change-at-a-time-like-this/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{corner2015storm, author = {Corner, Adam}, title = {{Storm Desmond: Who wants to talk about climate change at a time like this?}}, publisher = {Climate Outreach}, year = {2015}, month = dec, url = {https://climateoutreach.org/storm-desmond-who-wants-to-talk-about-climate-change-at-a-time-like-this/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }