Edwin is joined by climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, who discussed the challenges of climate change communication in a politically polarized world. She emphasized the importance of having effective, values-based conversations about climate change. 

"In the U.S., two-thirds of people are worried about climate change, but most of them don't know what to do and they don't understand why it affects them personally, so they do nothing," Hayhoe told WCPT. "So when I say that it's important to have conversations, I personally think the 60 percent of people who are worried but they don't understand why it matters and they don't know what to do about it and they aren't doing anything as a result, that's where we can have the most effective conversations." 

Hayhoe highlighted the role that cities can play in mitigating climate impacts, by making it "easier for people to choose clean energy, for people to take public transportation; make it easier to find places to plug in their car; make it easy to reduce food waste and compost and get rid of food waste in a way that doesn't produce heat-trapping gasses." She spoke as well about the efforts the city of Chicago has made "to bring nature into the city to help protect from heat and flood as climate continues to change."

Hayhoe also addressed the global implications of the Trump administration pulling back from climate action, noting that countries like China and India are moving forward with green energy. 

Catch “The Big Picture with Edwin Eisendrath” Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/the-big-picture).