Commission partners on climate communication guide

A new guide for climate communicators has been co-produced by Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission and ADEPT, the voice of local authority place directors and their teams.

An Introduction to Talking Climate is a practical guide for communicators working on projects that involve discussing climate and nature and provides evidence-based approaches to climate communication that resonate with people’s everyday lives.

The guide draws on extensive research from Climate Outreach’s Britain Talks Climate and Nature 2025 toolkit. It addresses a critical challenge: while 74% of Britons feel climate change is important, many communicators struggle to frame messages that connect with public concerns and values.

The guide offers:

• Ten practical recommendations for climate communicators, from avoiding jargon to celebrating local successes.
• A quick reference guide with suggestions on how to turn common climate terminology into language that is more impactful and accessible.
• Guidance on focusing messages on tangible benefits that individuals can identify with: better public transport, cleaner air, improved fitness, healthier diets and cost savings.
• Tips for addressing misinformation and building greater public trust.
• Emphasis on the climate-nature connection and how restoring nature is crucial to the solution.

The guide is designed for local authority place teams, but is also useful for anyone engaged in strategic climate communication with the public, and is free to access.

The handy reference tool addresses the trust crisis, acknowledging that with public trust in politics and government declining, authentic and well framed communication is more important than ever.

It also acknowledges that local context matters – the tips are designed to guide, not dictate, recognising that communicators know their audiences best.

Download the guide