Derek Gladwin – The Conversation

Language is an ecological phenonemon which responds and evolves with environmental change just as much as environments change with language. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

August 10, 2023

How language can turn down the temperature of heated climate change discourse

Derek Gladwin, University of British Columbia and Kedrick James, University of British Columbia

Language is adaptive, self-balancing and evolves with environmental change. Understanding this may be the key to developing more nuanced climate change discourse.

For a consumer, for instance, making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) is a difficult decision. (EVgo Network/flickr)

July 19, 2022

How climate storytelling helps people navigate complexity and find solutions

Naoko Ellis, University of British Columbia and Derek Gladwin, University of British Columbia

Climate change and its solutions are complex. One way to understand them — and the decisions that come with them — is through “systemic storytelling.”

Northern European folklore had different ways of referring to distant lights known to spontaneously appear on peatlands, including will-o’-the-wisp, and the more familiar jack-o’-lantern. (Shutterstock)

October 24, 2021

Peatland folklore lent us will‑o‑the‑wisps and jack‑o‑lanterns, and can inspire climate action today

Derek Gladwin, University of British Columbia

Peatlands have been central to how northern European folklore has explored fear and a sense of the supernatural for hundreds of years. Their persistence is also key to slowing down climate change.

Ron Lamb installed solar panels to power his irrigation systems on the family farm near Claresholm, Alta. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

April 20, 2020

We could power a new green movement by talking about energy change

Derek Gladwin, University of British Columbia

Talking about energy transitions could help overcome the impasse we seem to have reached on climate change.

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