Can Good Stories Help Save the Planet?

15.11.24 What Happens Next? Can Good Stories Help Save the Planet? | 97 When it comes to climate change, data alone often fails to inspire action. But across the Indo-Pacific, communities are reframing climate communication by shifting from statistics to human-centred storytelling. This episode of “What Happens Next?” explores how real stories of resilience, innovation and traditional knowledge are adding new plotlines to the narrative of climate change, helping us understand its impacts on a deeper level. Host Dr Susan Carland speaks with frontline storytellers who are amplifying local voices – from communities adapting to rising sea levels to Indigenous leaders drawing on age-old wisdom to combat environmental challenges. Expert outline how these narratives bridge the gap between global issues and local experiences, making climate science relevant to daily life. You’ll hear about groundbreaking projects like Monash University’s Global Immersion Guarantee program, which sends students to witness climate impacts firsthand, and RISE (Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments), a collaborative effort combining traditional and modern methods to address climate challenges in challenging urban environments. By focusing on the lived experiences of those directly affected, the episode highlights how storytelling can transform climate awareness into meaningful action. Tune in to discover why the stories we tell might just help save the planet. A full transcript of this episode is available on Monash Lens. Learn more: Part One: Will Climate Change Wipe Out the Indo-Pacific? RISE Indonesia: Revitalising informal settlements in Makassar Why we need disability-inclusive climate change adaptation plans “What Happens Next?” will be back next week with an all-new topic. If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, or rate or review “What Happens Next?” to help listeners like yourself discover it.