Climate Stories
They begin with “When I was a kid . . .” or “It used to be…” or “It seems like there are more (or less) . . . ” or “Remember when . . .”
We all have a climate story. Climate, in essence, is long-term weather and our stories often center on weather events that clash with what we think is normal. Some are profound and dramatic, loaded with strife; others are subtle, laced with fond memories and linked to traditions.
In this video, a Wisconsin woman describes her family’s experience living and farming near the Mississippi River that to her surprise and dismay has flooded three times in nine years.
Our stories often are casual observations that something subtle but fundamental has changed, as reflected in this overheard exchange:
First speaker: “When I first moved to Madison, summers were really sunny. Now it seems like it’s cloudy or raining a lot. Also, we almost never have those brilliant blue sky winter days after it snows anymore.”
Her companion: “I can tell you why. It’s because the jet stream over Wisconsin has moved north—changing the weather patterns.”
A local news broadcast, which you can access here, tells a longer climate story about Pheasant Branch Conservancy recovery from last year’s flooding. Damages were estimated at nearly $2.5 million.
Climate stories can be elaborate or simple, expressed as paintings, poems, sounds, scents, flavors or all combined.
A Milwaukee-based spoken-word artist raps about extreme heat. You can check it out here.
While not specifically about climate, this seven-year-old girl’s climate story, as told by a local store clerk, is about damage to our already stressed environment:
“I don’t need a bag. I brought my own. Plastic bags are bad for nature.”
Share your climate story. It’s how we raise awareness—it matters.