“The findings are both concerning and hopeful. Polarisation around climate change is deepening, but our research shows it often stems from misunderstandings rather than true disagreement. This means we have the power to bridge divides and foster more constructive dialogue by updating how we frame these conversations.” Erika Staël von Holstein highlighted the power that narratives can have in depolarising the debate on climate change, during a hybrid high-level Expert Roundtable on New Narratives for Climate Action, because “when framed thoughtfully, narratives can transcend divisions and mobilise people toward collective action”.
As part of the Depolarisation Exhibition programme, a hybrid high-level Expert Roundtable on New Narratives for Climate Action, hosted by Magdalena Adamowicz, was held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, to debate and analyse the preliminary findings of the NODES’ research on Climate Narratives. The roundtable brought together around 30 international experts and key thinkers from academia, policy, NGOs, media, and other fields. It presented narrative maps, bridges, and traps to illuminate blind spots and suggest actionable paths forward.
“Narratives are often misunderstood as tools of persuasion. In reality, they are tools for listening and understanding”. In his intervention, Professor David Chavalarias showcased with CNRS’ data-driven insights that the climate debate is not just polarised, it’s also deeply weaponised. The NODES results prove that “whether it is in the discussion on climate, or the covid one, the polarisation is used to foster distrust in the system, fragmentation of social cohesion and toxicity in the public space”.
Since narratives are among the most powerful tools we have to change behaviour, it is imperative to use them as frameworks for rethinking, to transform attitudes and uncover novel solutions. The hosting MEP, Magdalena Adamowicz, argued that “we must combat disinformation by all mean. It is a powerful tool used to destroy our democracy and social order. That’s why this discussion is so important. We need to develop a common approach to rethink the debate around climate change and lay the foundation for a defence system against disinformation.”
The event featured also groundbreaking analyses and interventions from Professor Andrzej Nowak, Professor Szymon Malinowski, Lena Schilling MEP, Reinier van Lanschot MEP, Daria Golebiowska-Tataj, Jordan Ricker and Michael Matlosz.
The discussions delved into the political framework reform needed to reshape the conversations, as well as the economic and social implications of a grounded, but ambitious approach to combatting disinformation. Additionally, the same ambition needs to be reflected upon the combat against not only climate change, but also the polarisation surrounding the topic.
Re-Imagine Europa, working closely with the NODES results and consortium partners, developed a Depolarisation Manual, that aims to showcase that the divides between perspectives are often narrower than they appear, and that bridging these divides could be key to breaking cycles of distrust. By focusing on the shared narratives and values that connect us, we have the potential to reverse polarisation and foster constructive dialogue.
The R.E.F.R.A.M.E Methodology, grounded in extensive NODES research, provides concrete strategies and seven-point process to address polarisation through an understanding of narrative dynamics. By employing tools like narrative maps, which chart the different perspectives within a debate; narrative bridges, which translate meaning across communities; and the identification of narrative traps, which reveal cognitive blind spots, we can build resilience to polarisation. These tools are designed to foster mental flexibility and empathy, empowering individuals to see beyond their immediate perspectives and engage with others in meaningful ways.
