Words Matter: The Guardian Updates its Style Guide
May 22, 2019 1:27 PM Subscribe
The Guardian has updated its style guide to introduce terms that more accurately describe the environmental crises facing the world. Instead of “climate change” the preferred terms are “climate emergency, crisis or breakdown” and “global heating” is favoured over “global warming”, although the original terms are not banned.
“We want to ensure that we are being scientifically precise, while also communicating clearly with readers on this very important issue,” said the editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner. “The phrase ‘climate change’, for example, sounds rather passive and gentle when what scientists are talking about is a catastrophe for humanity. Increasingly, climate scientists and organisations from the UN to the Met Office are changing their terminology, and using stronger language to describe the situation we’re in,” she said.
The United Nations secretary general, António Guterres, talked of the “climate crisis” in September, adding: “We face a direct existential threat.” The climate scientist Prof Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, a former adviser to Angela Merkel, the EU and the pope, also uses “climate crisis”.
...Earlier in May, Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who has inspired school strikes for climate around the globe, said: “It’s 2019. Can we all now call it what it is: climate breakdown, climate crisis, climate emergency, ecological breakdown, ecological crisis and ecological emergency?”
The update to the Guardian’s style guide follows the addition of the global carbon dioxide level to the Guardian’s daily weather pages. “Levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have risen so dramatically – including a measure of that in our daily weather report is symbolic of what human activity is doing to our climate,” said Viner in April. “People need reminding that the climate crisis is no longer a future problem – we need to tackle it now, and every day matters.”
“We want to ensure that we are being scientifically precise, while also communicating clearly with readers on this very important issue,” said the editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner. “The phrase ‘climate change’, for example, sounds rather passive and gentle when what scientists are talking about is a catastrophe for humanity. Increasingly, climate scientists and organisations from the UN to the Met Office are changing their terminology, and using stronger language to describe the situation we’re in,” she said.
The United Nations secretary general, António Guterres, talked of the “climate crisis” in September, adding: “We face a direct existential threat.” The climate scientist Prof Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, a former adviser to Angela Merkel, the EU and the pope, also uses “climate crisis”.
...Earlier in May, Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who has inspired school strikes for climate around the globe, said: “It’s 2019. Can we all now call it what it is: climate breakdown, climate crisis, climate emergency, ecological breakdown, ecological crisis and ecological emergency?”
The update to the Guardian’s style guide follows the addition of the global carbon dioxide level to the Guardian’s daily weather pages. “Levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have risen so dramatically – including a measure of that in our daily weather report is symbolic of what human activity is doing to our climate,” said Viner in April. “People need reminding that the climate crisis is no longer a future problem – we need to tackle it now, and every day matters.”
Not about style, but here is a well done visualization of the carbon cycle changing over time that puts the different components in perspective, made by @RARohde from Berkeley Earth.
posted by little onion at 1:37 PM on May 22, 2019 [14 favorites]
posted by little onion at 1:37 PM on May 22, 2019 [14 favorites]
Robert Macfarlane: "How do you find the words to tell the story of the environmental emergency of our times?": this is a shattering, brilliant essay about "the new language" of climate catastrophe, traditional knowledge & "broken rivers" by the great Alexis Wright.
Alexis Wright: We all smell the smoke, we all feel the heat. This environmental catastrophe is global: Governments of the world need to act. It’s time to speak to our planet with kindness before it’s too late
posted by homunculus at 1:44 PM on May 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
Alexis Wright: We all smell the smoke, we all feel the heat. This environmental catastrophe is global: Governments of the world need to act. It’s time to speak to our planet with kindness before it’s too late
posted by homunculus at 1:44 PM on May 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
Words do matter! Especially when words are code for our values. We may be able to partner on common outcomes, but because our values are different, we fight with each other instead. Here is a resource that was recommended to me in a recent ask -
Recommendations on How to Communicate Effectively to Build Support for Conservation
posted by rebent at 1:45 PM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
Recommendations on How to Communicate Effectively to Build Support for Conservation
posted by rebent at 1:45 PM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
Instead of “climate change” the preferred terms are “climate emergency, crisis or breakdown” and “global heating” is favoured over “global warming”, although the original terms are not banned.
The style guide of The Australian (Murdoch's national broadsheet), meanwhile, specifies the term “Cultural Marxism” in all the above cases.
posted by acb at 1:49 PM on May 22, 2019 [11 favorites]
The style guide of The Australian (Murdoch's national broadsheet), meanwhile, specifies the term “Cultural Marxism” in all the above cases.
posted by acb at 1:49 PM on May 22, 2019 [11 favorites]
And here's an example of the new style:
Climate crisis more politically polarizing than abortion for US voters, study finds (Oliver Milman, Guardian)
Climate crisis more politically polarizing than abortion for US voters, study finds (Oliver Milman, Guardian)
Surging concern among Americans about an overheating planet has done little to shift a political polarization that has now reached a stunning extreme: climate breakdown divides Democrats and Republicans even more than abortion does.posted by Johnny Wallflower at 2:03 PM on May 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
When voters were asked to rank topics important to them for the 2020 presidential election, conservative Republicans put global warming last out of 29 issues. Liberal Democrats placed the issue third, behind only environmental protection and healthcare.
Maybe if we all start inserting the word “worthless” in front of “waterfront property” the valuation algorithms will take note and prod the ultra wealthy to wake up from their stupor.
posted by simra at 2:20 PM on May 22, 2019 [19 favorites]
posted by simra at 2:20 PM on May 22, 2019 [19 favorites]
Great. Late, but I'll take it.
I'd prefer the more precise "climate murder". But like homicide, that gets you into arguing about intention, pre-meditation, negligence. Maybe we even meant well. Doesn't matter, the outcome is the same.
And it's not just the climate, it's the toxins and radiation and waste and clear-cutting and fracking, etc. etc. - all self-destructive attacks on organic life. "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
posted by Twang at 3:59 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
I'd prefer the more precise "climate murder". But like homicide, that gets you into arguing about intention, pre-meditation, negligence. Maybe we even meant well. Doesn't matter, the outcome is the same.
And it's not just the climate, it's the toxins and radiation and waste and clear-cutting and fracking, etc. etc. - all self-destructive attacks on organic life. "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
posted by Twang at 3:59 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
This is good. I'm currently writing a book on aesthetics that has a paragraph on this issue. I had previously used 'global warming', since 'climate change' is euphemistic. But now I've updated it to 'global heating'.
posted by leibniz at 4:54 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by leibniz at 4:54 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
Tell it like it is.
Because it'sgoing to starting to bite us in the ass.
posted by BlueHorse at 5:08 PM on May 22, 2019
Because it's
posted by BlueHorse at 5:08 PM on May 22, 2019
I think 'global heating' is prima facie no stronger than 'global warming', but destroys historical context, since global warming is the term the now shown to be prophetic founders of the science all used, and is therefore better and stronger.
posted by jamjam at 5:36 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by jamjam at 5:36 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
I'd always thought that "climate change" was coined as a way to get around the "hurr Durr if the Earth is getting warmer, why was it so cold today" crowd but now I am reading that it was invented by a Republican strategist with the express goal of sounding less threatening??? What is the truth???
Either way, 'climate crisis' has a good ring* to it.
*Of truth
posted by subdee at 6:31 PM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
Either way, 'climate crisis' has a good ring* to it.
*Of truth
posted by subdee at 6:31 PM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
Maybe if we all start inserting the word “worthless” in front of “waterfront property” the valuation algorithms will take note and prod the ultra wealthy to wake up from their stupor.Or at least, we can rehash that thread we had the other day where owners of big box stores claim that they're worthless for tax purposes.
posted by Hatashran at 7:11 PM on May 22, 2019
Considering it's the Guardian, I would have expected the style guide to recommend "global haeting".
posted by uosuaq at 8:05 PM on May 22, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 8:05 PM on May 22, 2019 [7 favorites]
Well, if Global Warming won't sell, how about Global Krakening?
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:25 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:25 PM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
Any time journalists update their stylebook, they leave themselves open to charges of editorializing or propagazdizing, so I wish them luck, or rather, an enhanced number and intensity of favorable outcomes. (The zaixfeep stylebook is a stylebook that was co-authored by Mojo Jojo, the co-author.)
As for Cultural Marxism. I'm a staunch supporter as should be all of you. "A Night At The Opera" was a very funny movie, with cultural icon Kitty Carlisle no less.
posted by zaixfeep at 9:09 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
As for Cultural Marxism. I'm a staunch supporter as should be all of you. "A Night At The Opera" was a very funny movie, with cultural icon Kitty Carlisle no less.
posted by zaixfeep at 9:09 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
I prefer the term 'Dutch Ovening the whole planet'.
posted by zaixfeep at 9:12 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by zaixfeep at 9:12 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
> I'd prefer the more precise "climate murder". But like homicide, that gets you into arguing about intention, pre-meditation, negligence. Maybe we even meant well. Doesn't matter, the outcome is the same.
Ecocide
George Monbiot: The destruction of the Earth is a crime. It should be prosecuted. Businesses should be liable for the harm they do. Polly Higgins has launched a push to make ecocide an international crime
There's more on ecocide in this previous post: “The Earth is in need of a good lawyer.”
posted by homunculus at 9:55 PM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
Ecocide
George Monbiot: The destruction of the Earth is a crime. It should be prosecuted. Businesses should be liable for the harm they do. Polly Higgins has launched a push to make ecocide an international crime
There's more on ecocide in this previous post: “The Earth is in need of a good lawyer.”
posted by homunculus at 9:55 PM on May 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
Because it's starting to bite us in the ass.
Which won't necessarily lead to the right sort of reckoning; they can attribute causation otherwise, and the rules are that My Ignorance Is The Equal Of Your Knowledge; i.e., “well, liberals say the extreme weather is due to carbon dioxide emissions, however, some say it's due to God punishing us for tolerating sodomy and/or women wearing trousers, so who can really say?”
posted by acb at 12:27 AM on May 23, 2019
Which won't necessarily lead to the right sort of reckoning; they can attribute causation otherwise, and the rules are that My Ignorance Is The Equal Of Your Knowledge; i.e., “well, liberals say the extreme weather is due to carbon dioxide emissions, however, some say it's due to God punishing us for tolerating sodomy and/or women wearing trousers, so who can really say?”
posted by acb at 12:27 AM on May 23, 2019
I'd always thought that "climate change" was coined as a way to get around the "hurr Durr if the Earth is getting warmer, why was it so cold today" crowd but now I am reading that it was invented by a Republican strategist with the express goal of sounding less threatening??? What is the truth???
That was Frank Luntz who invented this reframing, encouraging his Republican clients to use and push the use of "climate change" to make it sound innocuous:
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:20 AM on May 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
That was Frank Luntz who invented this reframing, encouraging his Republican clients to use and push the use of "climate change" to make it sound innocuous:
"Climate change" is less frightening than "global warming." As one focus group participant noted, climate change "sounds like you're going from Pittsburgh to Fort Lauderdale." While global warming has catastrophic connotations attached to it, climate change suggests a more controllable and less emotional challenge.The Luntzes and other right-wing grifters of the world know that language is important. Connecting with people on an emotional level can more easily convince them to see things the way you see them. It might be too late for future generations of humans for the political left to learn this lesson. But it is hopeful to see the dialogue begin to be challenged (and changed) — even if in incremental ways.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:20 AM on May 23, 2019 [3 favorites]
"Climate change" has also been subverted by so-called "climate skeptics"/deniers to the tune of statements like, "The climate has always been changing. We are coming out of an ice age. This is just natural regression to the norm."
I'm torn on the style changes. While I don't think the terms we've been using are the most accurate I think they might be the most effective. One of the most common complaints I see from deniers is that "claims from the media are overblown and/or hyperbolic." These new terms are not likely to help change that opinion (however accurate the terms might be).
posted by redsnare at 5:13 AM on May 23, 2019
I'm torn on the style changes. While I don't think the terms we've been using are the most accurate I think they might be the most effective. One of the most common complaints I see from deniers is that "claims from the media are overblown and/or hyperbolic." These new terms are not likely to help change that opinion (however accurate the terms might be).
posted by redsnare at 5:13 AM on May 23, 2019
rms has been using "global heating" for years. Just saying.
posted by joeyh at 6:31 AM on May 23, 2019
posted by joeyh at 6:31 AM on May 23, 2019
As for Cultural Marxism. I'm a staunch supporter as should be all of you. "A Night At The Opera" was a very funny movie, with cultural icon Kitty Carlisle no less.
I learned everything I know about contract law from the "Sanity Clause" scene.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:26 AM on May 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
I learned everything I know about contract law from the "Sanity Clause" scene.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:26 AM on May 23, 2019 [2 favorites]
I'm going to use "climate crisis" from now on over "climate change" and suggest that students in the Indigenous Land Stewardship program at Native Education College consider the same.
And while looking forward to the leap into the links and quotes homonculus mentions, I remember this one from the late, great Utah Phillips:
“The Earth is not dying, it is being killed, and those who are killing it have names and addresses.”
posted by ecourbanist at 6:10 PM on May 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
And while looking forward to the leap into the links and quotes homonculus mentions, I remember this one from the late, great Utah Phillips:
“The Earth is not dying, it is being killed, and those who are killing it have names and addresses.”
posted by ecourbanist at 6:10 PM on May 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
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