Yeah But… You’re Not a Climate Expert!

This is the 11th in my “Yeah But…” series and is one always makes me smile - because it says more about the person saying it than it does about who it's directed at.

The idea that only credentialed scientists or electrical engineers are allowed to talk about climate change is not only anti-democratic but also deeply ironic. Most of the people shouting this line online aren’t climate scientists themselves. They’re just trying to shut others up.

Let’s be clear: I’m not a climate scientist. But I don’t pretend to be. I rely on the thousands of climate scientists around the world whose findings have been published, reviewed, challenged, replicated, and affirmed. I read the IPCC reports. I pay attention to what experts like Michael E. Mann, Joëlle Gergis, Katharine Hayhoe, and Will Steffen (may he rest in power) advise. I cite peer-reviewed science and public data.

So no, I may not be a scientist. But I’m a citizen. And being a citizen in a democracy comes with responsibilities - including speaking out when our leaders aren’t listening to the science and ignore it in favour of vested interests.

Telling people they have no right to speak out unless they have a PhD in climate modelling is like telling a parent they can’t raise concerns about a school curriculum unless they’re a teacher, or that you can’t care about hospital wait times unless you’re a doctor. It’s nonsense.

We are all affected by climate change. And we all have a role to play in pushing for action.

One of the most effective things individuals can do for climate action is talk about it. So don’t be silenced by those trying to shame you. Speak up. Share what you’ve learned. Ask questions. Join a group. Talk to your MP. Write a letter or blog. March in the streets. Vote.

You don’t have to be “woke” or an expert to care. You just have to be awake.