Conversations… from Katharine Hayhoe to the Gruffalo
The UK seems to be sliding into Trump-esque politics. So how on Earth can we protect climate action and restore nature now?
Well, as the UK’s local election results were miserably dribbling in on Friday, I got to put this question to one of my professional heroes – Katharine Hayhoe.
Katharine is a climate scientist and one of the best climate communicators out there. And on Friday, she was speaking at UCL.
I think her book Saving Us should be well-thumbed on the bookshelf of everyone who cares about our planet. Using behavioural science, Katharine has charted a way for a ground-up, community-based awakening. How? Through talking to each other. (And that was, of course, her answer to my question.)
Anna and Katharine at UCL, May 2026
It might sound trite but it’s not. Stay with me.
We need conversations that connect the head, the heart and the hands. The head – what’s happening. The heart – why it matters. The hands – what we can do about it.
That last bit is the most important one – what we can do about it.
Research shows that most people do care about the climate crisis - but still many don’t act.
A 2024 study from New York University found people are willing to do something about the climate crisis if they think their actions will make a difference.
So, there’s no need for graph-waving or guilt-tripping. Instead, we need to start local, with what’s around us, using what we have, and connecting with people where they are.
One of my favourite examples of the power of conversation is our local neighbourhood nature group, led by John Willshire.
John leading a bat safari around our suburban neighbourhood
Ten years ago, our suburban newbuild development was a nature desert. But through conversations, we’ve been gently rewilding it. The results astonish me. We now have the full set of ‘Gruffalo predators’ – foxes, snakes and owls – as well as hedgehogs, badgers, red kites, buzzards, toads, newts and a raucous dawn chorus.
The whatsapp group has almost 100 members – drawn from all walks of life, not just Guardianistas - and we’re sharing our nature sightings as we plant fruit trees, dig ponds, build hedgehog highways and create pollinator patches.
Remarkably, the nature group hasn’t just built a sense of pride in our natural environment, it’s also created a forum of positivity for neighbours. While all communities have their flashpoints (parking…), the nature group unites almost all of us.
All hail the humble conversation.
A tawny owl perched on top of our neighbour’s house