”I do not want to be climate fucked (klima kneppet) by several inferior types that has opinions about everything from my house being too big or my work being too far away from my home. I want to take my responsibility for the climate but I will not drop dead to reduce the CO2-emissions” says Tine Aurvig-Huggenberger, chief of public affairs in Prime Time Communications to a Danish tabloid.

Sex and the climate

Sex has an ability to draw attention and it seems that people can find a connection between sex and every other aspect of our society - also the climate. It might not be all wrong having several “green organizations” talking about green sex.

That put aside being “climate fucked” is just another term equal to having “climate nausea” (klima kvalme) - an expression widely used in the Danish media.

Sickened by the climate

The expression climate nausea is used by people that find they have heard enough about the climate. They are fed up with advices on how they can get a climate friendly lifestyle.

They get confused, and find that they have to navigate in a market overflowing with ever-increasing amounts of information.

It could be advice on how to do climate friendly transportation, what to choose in the supermarket, or good washing habits. But the new tests, researches, and claims do blend for the ordinary person not used to filtering that amount of information. And ministry information easily gets mixed up with company claims. Labels like ecoright, green, chemical free, healthy, climate friendly etc. are selling products and greenwash is covering all groups of products.

Tired and thirsty

The average consumer has no ability to judge upon companies’ statements of being right or wrong.

Thus, they get tired, confused and give up.

What they want is realistic recommendations. Not to hear about the catastrophe of climate change or to be criticized.

Teach or adjust

Are these people to be listened to?

Personally, I find it sad that (in Denmark at least) there is the tendency toward simple information - not to know the background, hear the numbers, learn the evidence, understand the perspective, or get the heavy background information. People want it easy. Fast, clear information that is easy to digest.

Instead of the plate of pasta with sauce, different vegetables, ingredients and spices that together make up the whole meal, they want it blended together and served easy to digest and handle as a grissini stick with flavor.

But how people want news or guidelines is a product of our society and as journalists we have to meet people where they are if we want them to listen. We have to present the information we want to communicate in manners so the message gets received and understood.

But of course no one prohibits us from pushing the boundaries as far as possible, instead of meeting the lowest common denominator. And one never has to do stories that one cannot vouch for.