Social networks can also turn you into a real eco-friendly


Often seen as fertile ground for conspiratorial theses and climate scepticism, social networks could also be a place for raising awareness of climate change and a field for action.

Frank is 45 years old. A restaurateur, he doesn’t often have time to read the press or watch the news. Of climate change, he had only a brief idea and as he humbly explains to us: ” I don’t have any scientific knowledge and I have a hard time understanding the ins and outs. And then, it’s all terribly anxiety-provoking. »

So, like many, he closed his eyes. But Franck is used to keeping in touch with his family and friends on Facebook. One day, thanks to a post from Hugo Clément commented on by one of his contacts, Franck becomes aware of his room for action and begins to discuss with a group of restaurateurs concerned about the future of the planet. ” We discussed together what we could do at our level and from there, we created a group to continue the discussions and improve our practices. »

Exit the heated terrace and meat on all menus. Franck now distributes plaids to customers who wish to eat out and he has learned to green his menu. “ I explained my approach and my customers are delighted “, explains the restaurateur who continues to improve his practices by discussing with his peers.

Greta Thunberg is a modern figure in the fight against climate change, with the Youth for climate movement. // Source: Wikimedia/CC/European Parliament (cropped photo)

How do we talk about climate change?

Franck is not the only one for whom social networks have raised awareness about global warming. This is indeed what the study Climate and environment in France (2017-2022) published on March 3, 2022 shows.
This work combining digital humanities and discourse studies examines the different narratives around the climate and the environment that circulated, in France, under the five-year term of Emmanuel Macron (between his election in May 2017, and until February 1, 2022 ).

This study combines the extraction of online data (especially on social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and Youtube), the grouping of comments from Internet users into a corpus, and the analysis of discourse using Iramuteq, Facepager, Rawgraph or Gephi)”, explains its author, Albin Wagener, associate researcher at Rennes 2 University and INALCO and regular expert in discourse analysis and design with the European Climate Foundation.

I sought to decipher what people are saying about climate change on social networks – where they tend to let go, and how they position themselves. To do this, I analyzed a selection of successful and viral publications and the conversations they generated. “explains the researcher.

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Cover of the 6th IPCC report, part two.  // Source: IPCC

“People talk a lot about global warming”

The results are surprising to say the least. Indeed, far from the image of a Facebook or a Youtube reservoirs of climato-skepticism, “People talk a lot about global warming, are really concerned and take it very seriously”explains Albin Wagener.

According to his observations, there would be only a small climatosceptic sphere close to the extreme right as well as a few critical voices emanating from liberalism, but for the rest, Internet users are very aware of what is happening. . They react and ask questions. “ They wonder a lot about the place of humans in living things, about their relationship with the animal world “, notes Albin Wagener.

The importance of positive stimulation

There is a crucial point that emerges from the study: the more people have examples of what they can do at their level to fight against climate change, the more they feel concerned. ” Positive stimulation, daily stimulation, local and individual initiatives put forward by media such as Brut or Konbini meet with great success. They give ideas, cultivate hope and enthusiasm “, explains the researcher.

He was able to observe the ability of Internet users to organize themselves online to develop ways of thinking together and designing operational initiatives, particularly in terms of energy and food.

However, Internet users are far from being naive. ” They are wary of too simple solutions like the electric car “, explains Albin Wagener. ” As attentive to the solutions as they are, they are not ready to swallow anything. Exit therefore greenwashing and false good solutions.

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Excerpt from Don't Look Up.  Scene during a TV show.  // Source: Netflix

But who embodies the climate fight in France?

Finally, the study shows the importance of embodiments of the fight against global warming… and their relative lack in France. No Greta Thunberg in France, but a figure has however managed to win: Jean-Marc Jancovici. ” A man, an engineer… it’s very French. But he managed to impose particular narratives.notes Albin Wagener, who nevertheless regrets the lack of emblematic figures to raise public awareness of climate change.

There remains a strong signal: in order for the public to really feel concerned by the climate, it is necessary to offer them concrete solutions and initiatives that they can join.



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