Climate change isn’t funny but comedians are using humor to raise awareness of it

Climate change isn't funny. But more comedians are using humor to bring awareness to it. A university in the U.S. is showing students that laughs can sometimes achieve more than lectures. Climate comedy is a long-time tradition at the University of Colorado Boulder. In a dark theater, students—largely environmental studies majors—stand in a circle while they warm up their faces, vocal cords and bodies to prepare for a not-so-typical class. They listen closely to drama professor Beth Osnes-Stoedefalke, who has been teaching a creative climate communication course for 13 years with environmental studies professor Maxwell Boykoff. “We're doing the arts. There are no rules. You're getting as close to the edges what can be said as possible because it's comedy,” she tells the students. They are among a growing group of comedians using humor to raise awareness of climate change. On stage, online and in classrooms, they tell jokes to tackle topics such as the Inflation Reduction Act, fossil fuel industries, and convey information about the benefits of plant-based diets that emit less planet-warming emissions. They hope to educate people about the climate crisis, relieve anxiety with laughter and give people hope. And although the impacts of climate change are deadly and devastating, experts say using humor to talk climate is an important part of the larger ecosystem of how it's communicated. “If we’re engaging these students in creative climate communication through comedy, they just don’t have room for their anxiety,” Osnes-Stoedefalke says. Here, students learn how information about climate issues and solutions can be conveyed creatively. They have virtual guest talks by professional comedians and producers, and work on their own sketch comedy or stand-up routines, which they later perform at the annual “Stand Up for Climate Comedy” showcase. Climate comedy can also be used to make sense of the political moment. This article was provided by The Associated Press.