Beyond science: Rethinking climate change communication for South Asia's future

As the world confronts escalating climate disasters, the recent webinar 'Beyond the Science: The Missing Piece in Climate Action - Communication', organised by the Climate Change Communication Hub in Sri Lanka, brought together leading voices from South Asia to discuss why, despite robust science and decades of policy, the climate message continues to falter and what must be done to fix it.

- By CLIMATE CHANGE COMMUNICATION HUB

The panel featured Ranga Pallawala (Sri Lanka), a climate policy expert from the EU's Switch-Asia Programme, Afia Salam (Pakistan), a veteran journalist and environmental advocate and Apoorva Pathak (India), doctoral researcher in international climate law. Moderated by Sharon Mascarenhas, the event delved deep into the communication chasm between climate knowledge and everyday action.

'Like a car on a cliff': Ranga on urgency of climate action

Ranga used a powerful analogy to drive home the stakes.

"When you go to the peak without a break and start coming down, you cannot stop. It's the same with climate change once we cross certain thresholds, we lose control."

According to Ranga, the world is nearing that irreversible tipping point.

"We are narrowing the space to act. If we don't change direction now, we may not be able to reverse the consequences within this century."

However, Ranga emphasised that climate change is not just an environmental issue.

"It affects every sector health, economy, infrastructure and education. Yet, our governance and institutions are structured for yesterday's problems."

Alarmingly, he noted, "It's even difficult to teach some doctors about climate change. That's how disconnected the sectors are."

Art meets science: Afia calls for a paradigm shift

Afia urged a shift in how we think and feel about the climate crisis.

"Climate communication is both an art and a science," she said.

"It's no longer about convincing people climate change is real. The science is settled. What we need is relevance and resonance."

She pointed out that climate change remains abstract to many because the messaging is often scientific and inaccessible.

"We need to move from graphs and reports to storytelling. Use music, sports, religion and art to connect with hearts, not just minds."