In this episode, Peter Friederici explains that societal responses to climate breakdown have been closely tied to the dominance of large-scale narratives that promote passivity and inaction. Close examination shows that these narratives follow the structure of classical tragedy as they support the status quo and inhibit creative change. We can do better by instead exploring alternative storytelling frameworks, such as comedy, that allow for adaptability, democratic decision-making, and the embodiment of radical hope.

Peter Friederici is an award-winning writer who teaches classes in science communication and applied sustainability at Northern Arizona University. His articles and essays explore connections between humans and place, while much of his teaching-related work is focused on increasing the sustainability of regional food systems on the Colorado Plateau. His books include “Beyond Climate Breakdown: Envisioning New Stories of Radical Hope,” which explores how mindful new narrative frameworks can enable humans to better shape their future.

This talk is part of the series “Collective Climate Action: Inspired Organizing for Our Future” produced by the Spring Creek Project at Oregon State University. If you’d like to watch a video version of this talk, it’s available on Spring Creek Project’s YouTube channel.