LOLs: Secret Weapon Against CFCs and CO2?

Abstract

The climate crisis is serious, confusing, and has a lot of words people don’t understand. But everybody understands comedy! So, how do we weave these two very different fields together? Well, we don’t have to-it’s already happening. This chapter gives a brief overview of the history of entertainment-education; highlights research that demonstrates the efficacy of comedy as a communication strategy; details how various creators are using comedy to break down barriers to understanding how completely f**ked we are if we fail to build a more inclusive, justice-oriented clean energy economy; and explains what the climate change comedy field needs to move forward. If being completely f**ked is not on your agenda or the agenda of the future generations in your family, please read this chapter and join these collective efforts. Increased support and engagement could open doors for more mass media outlets, shows, and other entertainment projects to improve accessibility for the climate justice movement and invite more allies into it.