This is a telling statistic. People are eager for climate progress but don’t see it materializing in their communities. For example, on a local level, many cities struggle with funding public transportation and lack access to renewable energy. Research shows that by 2030, public transport capacity needs to double and that overall infrastructure growth needs to be six times faster to get the transportation sector on target to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Around 25% of U.S. counties have restrictions on wind, solar, or battery storage development. 

We can’t expect sustainable practices to be widespread if they don’t exist for most people. This disconnect leads to the false belief that people in their community aren’t ready for change. When in reality, the vast majority have been waiting for climate progress. We need more attention to implementing renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and food systems that work for a regular person. Too often, discussions about the slow growth of climate progress focus on individuals’ inability to adopt greener habits rather than looking at what infrastructure is there to support this transition.

Reason 2.  Lack of focus on the big polluters. 

On a similar note, every time a person’s impact is mentioned, we need to shift the attention to the corporations and industries responsible for most greenhouse gas pollution. Research shows just 100 companies have been the source of more than 70% of the world’s industrial greenhouse gas emissions since 1988. To me, the lack of sustainable options and disingenuous nitpicking of what 1-person is doing when there are such heavy polluters not being held accountable makes the process easy for people to disengage and tune out. I think the lack of pressure on the significant polluters furthers the feeling of climate progress being out of touch with the urgency needed to prevent the worst climate crisis. We need to do a better job pressuring our politicians and business leaders to fund and implement green energy and sustainable transportation and food systems. 

Reason 3. We Can’t Trust Our Leaders.

Unfortunately, research shows low trust in government and businesses to address climate change. Globally, 56% of people believe their government leaders are purposely misleading them. Politicians often speak ambiguously about the climate, and anti-climate politicians successfully spread misinformation. When people hear these misleading claims, they skew their understanding of the scientific consensus on climate change. Studies show that exposure to misinformation makes people less likely to believe scientists agree on climate change. If people don’t think scientists agree, trust in the process is eroded. This disconnect leads to the perception that climate initiatives lack credibility. When beneficial policies are implemented, some will always view them as worthless due to misleading claims.

Climate action, feeling disconnected, also stems from climate-friendly politicians. We’ve heard bold speeches from liberal politicians about their dedication to tackling climate change. However, regarding actual policy, the government still expands the oil and gas industry, as it did under the Biden administration. America has topped Russia, Saudi Arabia, and all other countries’ crude oil production for the last six years. Biden has kept this up, approving more oil and gas drilling permits on public lands than Trump did at the same point in his presidency. Biden is a better candidate for climate progress, but expanding oil production contradicts the urgent need to reduce fossil fuel dependence. John Kerry, the former climate envoy, has defended the expansion of oil and gas in the US while negotiating a net zero carbon future. 

This disconnect between leaders’ words and actions undermines trust and raises questions about their commitment to climate action. The study shows that 56% of people feel similarly, highlighting the widespread sentiment that climate action is performative. This leads to another issue:

Reason 4:  There’s a generalization in what climate action means. 

I’ve found there’s often a generalization in people’s minds about what climate action means. The headlining grabbing news of a climate protester throwing paint at a landmark is a better news story on social media than the huge wins with investments in clean energy, transportation, and climate-resilient infrastructure that are currently happening. This focus distorts the conversation. The media paints young people who care about the planet as villains and provides a reason for people to discredit the message. The media’s lack of focus on the real issues makes it harder for people to see the genuine efforts and successes in climate action. 

This generalization also shows how the media emphasizes extreme weather events and sensational news stories over ongoing climate action efforts. A recent study found that, although climate change is mentioned more when we discuss extreme weather, coverage remains heavily skewed toward dramatic events rather than climate initiatives. To give credit where it is due, the framing of climate change in the media has evolved to highlight the economic benefits of policies and the immediate risks posed by climate change, which has increased public support for climate policies. However, sensational stories still often receive more attention than substantive reports, and there are actual solutions and progress to talk about.

Reason 5: Corporate Greenwashing

At least these stories attempt to bring a conversation focused on climate change, compared to greenwashing campaigns that flood the media. Greenwashing occurs when companies and politicians show misleading environmental goals without making significant changes. It appears in advertisements, press releases, news stories, and social media campaigns. This paints a false picture of commitment while actual, impactful actions remain minimal. A 2020 study found that two-thirds of consumer behavior is influenced by greenwashing, indicating a more significant impact than we realize. Performative climate actions by corporations overshadow essential changes required to address the environmental crisis. For example, ads from Shell and BP claim to lead in sustainability efforts.

This phenomenon, especially in the oil industry, misleads consumers and hinders progress toward a sustainable future. Climate progress requires transparency, accountability, and commitments from corporations and governments. It requires shifting our energy away from the oil and gas industry. Superficial climate media has caused distrust when hearing “climate action” or ”sustainable practices.” Often, it’s a protester being vilified, a 30-second news story claiming doom, or a corporation spouting greenwashing lies. All this undermines genuine climate progress, leaving an impression of climate action as performative. It leaves little room in the media for genuine efforts to address the climate crisis.

Reason 6: Being a Realist vs. Defeatist

The climate conversation often has overwhelming negativity. There’s a difference between being a realist and a defeatist. This defeatist attitude appears both online and in person. Many believe it’s too late to do anything, and this mindset is damaging and likely part of the goal of those spreading misinformation. Research shows that oppositional media has shifted from outright climate change denial to delay tactics, which can be just as harmful in preventing effective climate policies.

The public response to climate change is often muted due to emotions like apathy, helplessness, and pessimism. These emotions are normalized through societal norms, like the lack of green infrastructure in a community, leading to a pervasive lack of action. People don’t try to care because they don’t think anything they do matters. This is what those delay tactics aim to achieve. People deny responsibility for individual climate actions by morally disengaging. This reinforces the belief that personal efforts won’t make a difference.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. We are making significant strides, and the potential for more change is immense. We have to push harder and stay committed. Focusing on successes and the tangible steps to build a sustainable future can transform the current narrative of paralysis and fear into hope and proactive effort. Most pollution comes from large corporations, but change will happen when we collectively demand accountability and adopt sustainable practices.

We can’t let negativity overshadow progress. Environmentalists need to break free from this learned helplessness and celebrate victories, no matter how small, while continuously pushing for more. It may feel like we’re up against a mountain, but once we realize the power we all hold to make a difference, the climate crisis transforms into a series of small battles rather than one overwhelming struggle.

Conclusion.

We’ve covered a lot. To summarize, there are the critical foundations for connecting climate progress to people on a local level: Clear information on climate progress is essential. Media should provide straightforward conversations that cut through the noise, which this podcast aims to do. When people see how climate policies impact their daily lives, it becomes less about abstract ideas and more about real change.

We need to implement carbon-reducing solutions quicker at the community level. Prioritizing renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and food systems is crucial. Key messages should emphasize that green alternatives are better, easier to use, more cost-effective, and longer-lasting, along with their climate benefits.

Replace the pervasive sense of helplessness in the environmental movement with hope and proactive effort. View climate progress as a series of small steps rather than one impossible mission. Remember the power of collective organizing. A unified local voice is one of the fastest ways to bring change. These small steps can create real change, starting in our communities and affecting broader policies.