How to talk to politicians about nature

How to talk to politicians about nature

Matthew Roberts

Whether you put pen to paper or face to camera, reach out to your local politicians and share a memory of why nature matters to you.

If there’s one thing that cuts through an argument, it’s emotion. We sometimes think that facts and statistics will persuade people the most but that’s not the case. If facts and statistics where all it took to sway decision makers, then we would have solved the climate and nature crisis through the many scientific reports that are already out there.

The reality is we’re human. We’re not rational, we’re emotional and this is why I think many nature campaigners are struggling to make themselves heard. Often, we rely on logic and reason to justify what we want. Sure, we are worried, frustrated and angry but we spend a lot of time trying to justify why we are right rather than accepting that the way we feel is cause enough to do something.

As one councillor explained to me, they rarely hear people speaking up for nature. Instead, it’s the people who are angry about grass not being mowed and weeds not being sprayed that get their attention. These anti-dandelion keyboard warriors are not arguing with cutting edge scientific evidence, they are just angry, frustrated people venting how they feel. And that works - that same councillor explained that those people get a disproportionate amount of their time.

Grandad and granddaughter with bird box

Evie and Tom photography

Giving people an insight into how we feel about something is arguably more powerful than just offloading information. Studies have shown the way you say something is more impactful than what you say. The success of the dandelion-hater comes from the fact they are making their feelings heard.

So how do we counter that? Should we all send angry emails to politicians? No, because many politicians do want to help and they need inspiration not abuse. If we nature lovers start talking with the same passion that drives us, political leaders will have to take notice and act on our concerns. 

The good news is we’ve something more powerful than anger to work with and that is nostalgia. I can’t think of a feeling better placed to express how we feel about nature-loss. There’s something magnetic about it that rallies people to a cause. Just look to the Brexit referendum where a longing for a Britain-of-old helped spur the Leave Campaign to victory.

family walk

Many of us will remember a childhood where nature was more abundant than it is now. Memories like climbing trees, running through meadows, chasing butterflies, capturing frogs – all of those are vital snapshots into a world we are losing. Those memories hold a potent mix of feelings - from the joy of the moment, to longing to return to it, to the worry that it’ll never be like that ever again.

In my opinion, embracing the nostalgia of a time where British nature thrived is a real untapped opportunity for environmental movements. Let’s stop talking like robots and start talking in a way that will capture the hearts and minds of others.

So when you contact to your local politicians, try this:

  1. Share a memory of nature. Mention a time when nature stood out to you. Share the emotions you experienced.
  2. Explain how you’ve seen that change. Tell them how that makes you feel. Are you angry/sad/worried?
  3. Cap it all off by giving them the solution you want to see. Keep it simple and clear.

Whatever you do, don’t feel you need to know all the facts to start a conversation about nature. Your thoughts, memories and feelings are exactly what we need.