Active Climate, Earth & Environment Education & Skills

Climate Stories That Work

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

A UK charity called Heard is embedding well-framed climate stories into popular television shows—from hospital dramas to gardening programmes—to shift public attitudes on climate change. This matters because most people do not encounter climate change in their daily entertainment, and traditional messaging often fails to reach audiences who are not already engaged. The project addresses a gap in how climate communication works: it uses narrative change through popular culture rather than news or activism, targeting viewers who might otherwise tune out. Heard has 17 years of experience driving social change through media, with stories seen by millions. If successful, the programme could boost public understanding of the link between human health and planetary health, increase concern about climate change, and build support for policy changes. The long-term goal is that people embrace the real-world changes needed to address climate change, protect nature, and improve human health—not through facts alone, but through stories that make the connection feel personal and relevant.

View original technical description
Heard is a UK-based charity that drives narrative change through popular culture. Our mission is to shift public attitudes on urgent social issues by equipping media professionals and sector organisations with research-backed storytelling tools. For over 17 years, we’ve inspired impactful stories seen by millions across TV, journalism and entertainment. Our Climate Stories That Work programme, focuses on embedding well framed climate stories into TV to help audiences see the connection between a healthy planet and their own wellbeing. In partnership with Wellcome, we will build on this work by supporting production teams with tailored workshops, creative consultancy and story development across scripted and unscripted TV. We aim to reach non- traditional climate audiences - from hospital shows to gardening formats - and guide them to see that human health goes hand in hand with the planet’s health, boosting understanding, concern, and support for policy change. Our long term goal is that people support and embrace the changes we need to make to address climate change, protect nature and improve human health. We know one of the most important ways to do this is to make sure people hear well framed stories about the reality of climate change and the solutions to it.

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Researchers

Zino Akaka (EPMC Awardee)

Related Research

Grants with similar aims, by meaning.

Climate and Health on Screen
Climate Stories
Climate and Health Audience Insight Programme: Climate and Health Insight and Narrative in Entertainment
Once upon a time in a heatwave - exploring the power of stories to engage and empower people in climate change risk and resilience in Northern Ireland
Public Engagement - Discretionary Award

Original classification

Discretionary Award

Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.