Dialogues on climate change 2023 – the results
Started in January 2023, the series consisted of 10 de-polarization dialogues on issues related to climate change – a highly divisive topic in Poland. We gauged how citizens position themselves on particular environmental issues in Poland, what drives them apart and what brings them together as they interacted during the dialogues. 122 people from across the country participated, with 8 dialogues delivered online and 2 on-site.
The dialogues covered the following topics:
Transport emissions: who can afford eco-friendly transport?
Sustainable farming: can we afford food made in Poland?
Nuclear power plant: build it or boycott in Poland?
Summer droughts: who gets to use the water?
Endangered species: are parks for animals or for tourists?
Producing waste: who is responsible for disposal?
Meat consumption: a matter of tradition or choice?
Smog: clean air or cheap heating in cities?
Climate anger: does it help or hurt the case?
Climate change: what difference can I make?
Click on the cover to download the report
The project resulted in a report, which brings together actionable insights on each polarizing topic covered in the series and a broader analysis of what Poles think about climate change, how they get polarized around it and what to do lessen divisions. The report and knowledge has been transferred to local stakeholders who deal with climate and environment issues, so they can better understand the needs of their constituents and adjust their communication.
Key learnings from the report:
Poles need a conversation about the fair distribution of the costs of climate transition. Change should happen in the spirit of social solidarity and with recognition of the structural limitations some social groups face.
Poles are skeptical toward large-scale energy transformation projects run by the state. People simply don’t believe the government can handle a challenge as massive as building a nuclear power plant – in a safe and effective way.
Poles feel safer with transformation projects based on a decentralized and distributed approach. It gives people more choice and minimizes the risk of poor investments. We value solutions that are tailored to our lives and their specific contexts.
Communication that attacks or stigmatizes people’s behaviors on the environment leads to entrenched positions and shuts down dialogue. When we feel under attack, we shut off – and our openness to other points of view disappears.
Poles prefer messages that offer options and scenarios – we rebel when we are forced into something. At the same time, we expect clear regulations and don’t believe society will self-regulate on its own.
Poles don’t know who to trust when it comes to the necessary changes in the face of climate change. We live surrounded by a flood of data, and navigating this information noise leaves us confused and withdrawn.
Poles need accessible expertise on energy transition topics. Anyone can look up information on climate change online, but in practice, the topic is perceived as complex and difficult to grasp without significant effort.
The full report, in Polish, can be downloaded here. For more information on the individual dialogues in the series, see the project page in Polish here.
Partnerships with 7 local NGOs active on climate change topics have been established as part of the project, including: the World Catholics for the Environment Movement and the Slot Art Festival.
This project was financed through a grant from the European Climate Foundation. The climate dialogue series was organized by Katarzyna Binda, NCF lead on climate and environment topics.