SUMMARY

ClimateBites is an online toolkit for climate communicators -- anybody who addresses general audiences about climate change.   It offers language tools to help make your messages stick.

 In this "toolkit" you will find...

Bites - metaphors, soundbites, quips & quotes

Tools - for effective communication

• Rebuttals - to skeptics
• Great Presentations - stellar examples
• Humor - lighten up, and your audience will wake up
• Narratives - alternative climate "storylines"
• Tips - for more effective communication
• Slide & Graphics Library - downloads & links
• Programs & Blogs - on climate communication

GOALS

To provide educators, students, and the public with the appropriate, science based, one line responses to climte skeptics and deniers. ClimateBites will enable the user to be a more effective climate communicator, minimizing the risk of being taken out of context.

CONTEXT FOR USE

Explaining climate science is hard.   When you only have time to make a few key points, you have to "nail" them.  How?   By paring your message to its core, then stating it clearly . . . .

. . . in language that is:

• core
• clear
• correct
• concise
• compelling
• and not boring!

It is always challenging to craft punchy soundbites, but easy to recognize a good one when you hear it.    Just think of your favorite quote or slogan.   Who doesn't remember (even if we'd rather forget) "Where's the Beef?" *

ClimateBites gathers the "stickiest" climate messages we can find – metaphors, quotes, soundbites, imagery, humor – then organizes them into a searchable format.   For more depth, most "bites" offer links to the relevant science.   

Try browsing ClimateBites and you’ll see what we mean. 

The bottom line?   Climate science can be both serious and fun.   ClimateBites is the fun part!

However, messaging is but one small part of effective communication.   For advice and ideas that go "beyond bites," check out Tools/Tips and Tools/Narratives.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION AND TEACHING MATERIALS

Explore: Climate Bites

TEACHING NOTES

ClimateBites gives the educator short, clear and concise one line responses that can be used for presentations, opening remarks, signature statements, flyers, etc.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment is at the discretion of the educator as to how the one liners are used and whether the appropriate one liner used to answer the particular question raised.

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

If a resource already exists online, we simply link to it.   If not, we create it ourselves.  

These criteria guide our selections:   We look for resources that:

• empower climate communicators
• avoid "reinventing the wheel"
• represent only the very best (in our opinion) resources out there.
• are quick and easy to access and download.