Does the way we talk about the climate crisis numb people with fear, rather than energising them? | Roger Harrabin

Phrases such as green economy' turn voters off, it seems - and Labour has already reframed its language

• Roger Harrabin is a former BBC climate correspondent

As Cop28 approaches, the Swiss solar aviator and environmentalist Bertrand Piccard says he will be given a platform at the conference to argue that we need to rethink the words we use to discuss climate change. He says many climate terms can numb people with fear instead of inspiring them into action, and proposes new language that will reframe our situation as an opportunity, rather than a crisis.

Take the key phrase green economy": Piccard says this motivates environmentalists but repels those who discern an assault on their lifestyle or a rise in their bills. Why not, he says, rechristen it the clean economy", because no one likes dirty". Likewise clean energy" instead of green energy". He has come up with an entire list of terms in common use that he believes need a rebrand.

Roger Harrabin is a fellow at St Catharine's College, Cambridge and a former BBC correspondent