Use The Truth Sandwich to stop climate misinformation
Climate misinformation and disinformation are rampant. The U.N. named them a major obstacle to creating a sustainable world. While I was at The Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps training this month, climate storytelling was one of the main topics. I learned so much incredible information about how to enhance my climate communications. One of the most powerful tools for combatting misinformation and disinformation is The Truth Sandwich.
Calling out misinformation and disinformation is critical but the way we call it out matters. If we call it out by only sharing it and saying it’s not true, that actually makes the misinformation and disinformation worse. The social media algorithms will see us engage with it and amplify it. Also, if we don’t replace it with the truth, people will remember the misinformation and disinformation but they won’t know what the truth is.
Do this instead — build The Truth Sandwich. It goes like this: state the truth, state the lie and explain why it’s a lie, and restate the truth.
Here’s an example of the three parts of The Truth Sandwich:
“The quickest way to create a healthier world for all is to reduce and eliminate fossil fuels, and replace them with clean energy like wind and solar. This will reduce emissions and mitigate the worst impacts of global warming.
Fossil fuel companies say fossil fuels create a healthy world but scientists agree and science confirms fossil fuels are destroying the planet we all share. They generate emissions and pollution that directly causes disasters such as severe drought, intense heat waves, wildfires, and hurricanes; diseases such as cancer and asthma that harm human health; and ecosystem destruction leading to hunger, poverty, and violent conflict.
By moving away from fossil fuels, we create a healthier, more prosperous future for all people.”
State the truth, state the lie and why it’s a lie, and restate the truth.
Also, notice a few other traits of the The Truth Sandwich:
- It’s in present tense. Climate change and the fallout from it are happening right now. This is not some distant problem that will never impact us. The effects of climate change are happening all over the world right now, including in our own communities. This is a problem right now that needs to be addressed right now before it gets worse.
- It’s human. Climate change is framed as a human problem with a human solution that will create a better future for humans. People are more likely to take action when a problem has human implications and solutions we can create.
- It’s hopeful. One of the fastest ways to prevent climate action is to shine a spotlight on the gloom and doom without replacing it with hope. People have to believe their actions will make a difference, and in the case of climate change every action makes a difference. What we are doing right now is helping; we need to do more of it and we need to do it faster. Individually and collectively.
There were so many other excellent learnings from The Climate Reality Project and I’m excited to share them in future posts. For now, build The Truth Sandwich and spread it around. Our collective future depends on it.