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Field notePractitionerEU-wide2 min readNarrative, Messaging and Argumentation#2

Advocacy Goes Optimistic

In a city filled with fearmongers and anxious public officials, advocates succeed in promoting a message of optimism and positivity to advance change and progressive policies for people and planet.

Eadbhard Pernot

Executive Director

Carbon Management Europe · Belgium

Executive Director at Carbon Management Europe, working on energy and climate advocacy.

energy and climateadvocacypublic affairsmessaging

Disclosure

Eadbhard Pernot is the Executive Director of Carbon Management Europe. The views expressed in this article are the author's own.

What it covers

Why optimistic, opportunity-focused advocacy beats fear-based messaging in the energy transition.

Who it is for

Energy and climate advocates, campaigners, and public affairs teams.

When to use it

When advocating for climate and energy policy in a debate dominated by fear, uncertainty, and doubt.

Key takeaway

The energy transition is an opportunity to reshape our economy without pollution, providing cheaper, more available energy with greater efficiency.

In brief

  • This trend looks at the reality of the energy transition as it is: an opportunity to reshape our economy without pollution, providing cheaper, more available energy with greater efficiency.
  • Right now, Brussels and Europe is filled with FUD pushers and public officials making decisions based on fear, not based on what is best for Europe.
  • Advocates can succeed in promoting a message of optimism and positivity to advance change and progressive policies for people and planet.

Advocacy goes optimistic

In my field (energy and climate) I am exhausted with advocates and officials gripped by FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt). This trend focuses not on spreading this message but one that looks at the reality of the energy transition as it is: an opportunity to reshape our economy without pollution, providing cheaper, more available energy with greater efficiency. This matters because right now, Brussels and Europe is filled with FUD pushers and public officials making decisions based on fear, not based on what is best for Europe. This is critical if we are to ensure we keep our climate goals on track and not further enable a (factually incorrect) argument that the energy transition will not make our lives better.

Advocacy goes optimistic: in a city filled with fearmongers and anxious public officials, advocates succeed in promoting a message of optimism and positivity to advance change and progressive policies for people and planet.