COMEDY
& CLIMATE

Academic research from across communication, media studies, psychology, and environmental science has demonstrated the value of stories, and humour as a way to engage audiences and shift the narrative on the climate crisis.

One of the key strengths of comedy lies in its ability to support emotional engagement and help people cope. The climate crisis is a complex set of interconnected, systemic issues, and stark presentation of facts can lead to overwhelm and a sense of powerlessness. Good-natured humour has been shown to help audiences process negative emotions and reduce anxiety.

Satire, too, plays an important role. Popular shows like The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Have I Got News For You, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver have consistently highlighted the scientific consensus on climate change, often reaching audiences who might otherwise be disengaged or distrustful of mainstream media. By blending humour with critical insight, these programmes provide alternative pathways into the climate conversation, helping to inform and mobilise viewers without overwhelming them.

The film Don’t Look Up, a dark climate satire, led to measurable shifts in audience attitudes after viewing. When paired with Leonardo DiCaprio’s climate-focused marketing message, the film significantly increased viewers’ concern about climate change, boosted their belief in the efficacy of individual and collective action, and strengthened support for government intervention. However, another study also showed that the film was polarising, and that while it led to an increase in support for climate action from Democrats, it decreased the support for climate action from Republicans. This indicates the pitfalls of polarising comedy - and the importance of comedy which can reach across the aisle, not just preach to the converted.

Comedy can take the diffuse, systemic issues behind climate change and make them entertaining, without losing the critical edge needed to provoke thought and discussion.

Comedy’s ability to connect audiences emotionally to characters outside of their usual social networks is crucial to this, as it provides an opportunity for audiences to hear and engage with different perspectives. From stand-up sets to sitcoms, comedy has the power to disarm defensiveness, reframe narratives, and spark new ways of thinking in audiences.

It’s a fair question. The climate crisis is existential, terrifying, and filled with the kind of slow-moving dread that keeps people awake at night. The truth is, comedy is one of the best tools we have for tackling tough subjects. Laughter has an amazing ability to disarm people, to lower their defences just enough to let in ideas that might otherwise feel too painful or overwhelming. I know that if I can get people to laugh about it, I can get them to think about it.

And, like everything else in life, the climate emergency is packed with contradictions, absurdities, and problems. In comedy we say that “the problems are the material”, and we have plenty of problems to work with.

But comedy isn’t just about pointing out the absurdities; it’s about building connections. When I joke about my own climate failings - like the time I realised I was considering driving my diesel van to attend a climate protest - it’s not just self-deprecating humour. It’s an admission that I’m part of the problem, just like everyone else. And in that moment, the audience and I are in it together. We’re all hypocrites. We’re all trying. And that shared vulnerability is where the conversation starts. If I can make an audience laugh about something they’re scared of, I’ve started a conversation. And conversations are where change begins.

When I perform, I pause and ask the audience for their ‘climate confessions’. I want them to share the little things they do - or don’t do - that make them feel guilty. I create a space where people feel seen and heard, not judged, and it’s amazing what people will admit to.

A CEO said he put his pyjamas in the tumble dryer to make them feel all snuggly before he goes to bed. I insist that we applaud each confession, and stress that we’re applauding not the behaviour itself but the candid admission. I started doing this in 2022, and it quickly became a mainstay of my shows. It’s a really fun piece of crowd work and an opportunity for me to riff on whatever is revealed, often really boosting the energy in the room.

The most pertinent element of the ‘climate confessions’, though, is that the universality of the request allows everybody in the room to engage. Even if they decide not to interact, every single person in that room is thinking “what will I say if I get picked?” I’m not just looking for laughs. I’m inviting people to lower their guard, to feel safe enough to share. Vulnerability begets vulnerability. And when people see others admitting their imperfections, it gives them permission to reflect on their own.

Comedy can’t solve the climate crisis. I know that. But it creates a space where people feel safe enough to engage with it. And in a world where apathy and denial can feel easier than action, that’s no small thing.