The Language of Soil: Learning the Lessons From Climate Change

Abstract

The issues of both soil health and climate change can be characterised as a so called ‘wicked problem’. We adopt this shared characteristic as a rationale for applying lessons from climate change communications to suggest an appropriate ‘language of soil’ that should be deployed to effectively communicate the pertinent issue(s) of soil health. Using six recognised examples of climate change communication pitfalls, we illustrate why inciting a sense of dread around soil and why setting ‘soil health’ deadlines are not helpful strategies to promote positive action on soils. We also discuss the value-action gap and the way in which it applies to soil communication and why it is important to avoid the ‘trap’ of the knowledge deficit model. Finally, we stress the importance of communicating actions rather than knowledge as well as the importance of ‘credible’ soil health communicators.