At Possibly we think a lot about how to make complicated climate science and policy easy to understand. And we’re not the only ones! Some comedians are playing an important role in re-thinking how we talk about climate change.
Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly, where we take on huge problems, like the future of our planet, and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. I’m Megan Hall.
Here at Possibly, we think a lot about how to make climate change easy to understand. And we’re not the only ones! It might be surprising, but some comedians are trying to do this too.
Juliana Merullo and Nat Hardy from our Possibly team are here to tell us more.
Juliana Merullo: Hiya!
Nat Hardy: Hi there!
Megan Hall: So is climate change really something to joke about?
Juliana Merullo: A lot of comedians would say yes! Including Esteban Gast. He’s the comedian in residence at the climate change and energy nonprofit Generation 180.
Esteban Gast: I was like, hey, sometimes I talk about climate stuff. And people were like, you do? Oh my godness, we need that!
Megan Hall: But, climate change is transforming our lives and threatening our future. Is it ok to make it seem funny?
Nat Hardy: Esteban says he gets that question a lot.
Esteban Gast: There’s backlash all the time from climate people who are like, this is the most serious issue of our time, how dare you make jokes about it? And part of me is like hey, we’re on the same team. And some of the most brilliant standup specials of all time, have dealt with really heavy issues.
Juliana Merullo: Studies have shown that using humor can help raise awareness of complex and difficult issues by making them more accessible. Jokes can also appeal to a much wider audience because they’re less likely to alienate people.
Megan Hall: OK, but how do you even make this topic funny?
Nat Hardy: We were wondering the same thing! Esteban starts with personal experiences.
Esteban Gast: like, does anyone else feel this? Does anyone else, like, feel weird when they’re thirsty and need to buy a plastic water bottle, but then they like, feel guilty?
Juliana Merullo: Then he starts digging deeper.
Esteban Gast: Oh wait a minute, who is making you feel guilty about that? And then it drives to a point where they’re like, Yeah, wait, why why do I feel so much guilt about that, when BP is just throwing oil into the Gulf of Mexico?
Nat Hardy: Esteban now helps run the Climate Comedy Cohort. Every year, it brings comedians together to write content about climate change.
Juliana Merullo: But first, they meet with climate scientists and researchers. They ask the experts questions, and make sure they understand the facts before they start writing jokes.
Megan Hall: Cool. But, can you really condense this information into a one-liner or a stand-up set?
Juliana Merullo: He says he thinks of comedians as a bridge. They connect climate experts to a much broader audience. But that doesn’t make him the expert!
Esteban Gast: I’d be nervous if people were getting too much climate information from me.
Nat Hardy: He’d rather stick to what he does best.
Esteban Gast: I’m a comedian. My role is silly silly, laugh laugh, and make you feel, and make you think a little bit. And then send me a message, and I’ll send you the books that I like.
Megan Hall: That makes sense! Are other comedians doing this too?
Juliana Merullo: Definitely! Esteban does mostly stand-up, but other comedians are making funny videos about climate change, or talking about it in their monologues on TV.
Jon Stewart: Now you may be thinking, do we really need a march to raise awareness about global climate change? I mean it’s an accepted scientific phenomenon pretty much everywhere but this one place called “The United States House Committee on Science Space and Technology”
Nat Hardy: Using humor to talk about climate change isn’t just about teaching people or raising awareness. It also can give people hope, and combat climate anxiety.
Juliana Merullo: And Esteban thinks his work can help people feel included, like no matter who they are, they can play a role in addressing climate change.
Esteban Gast: This idea of “everyone is invited” is huge. Like, I think that a climate movement that truly and genuinely invites all is a successful movement.
Nat Hardy: And he means everyone!
Esteban Gast: Like, Hey, are you a grandmother? Heck yeah, you’re invited. You’re in on this.
Juliana Merullo: Hear that grandma? The climate comedians want you!
Megan Hall: Alright, thanks, Juliana and Nat!
If you want to watch some of our favorite climate comedy from Esteban and others we’ve put together a list of climate comedy videos here:
Esteban Gast at Climate Week NYC 2023
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver – Carbon Offsets
Climate Town – 2 Minutes Of Fact-Checkable Climate Change Facts For Skeptics
To learn more about Possibly, or submit a question about the way your choices affect our planet, go to askpossibly.org. You can also follow Possibly on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or X at “askpossibly”
To learn more about Generation 180 and sign up for updates about their work, go to generation180.org/newsletter-signup.
Possibly is a co-production of Brown University’s Institute for Environment and Society, Brown’s Climate Solutions Initiative, and the Public’s Radio.
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