Show Don’t Tell – Why Climate Language Needs To Change To Motivate Consumer Behavior
- Nov 21, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 10, 2025
Written by Ariel Grace Snapp, Creativity Coach
Ariel Grace Snapp has always been a multi-passionate creative balancing service and the expressions of her soul. She’s a coach for creatives, a tech creative director, intuitive and MacroFloral photographer and host of the Creatively Free podcast.
The climate crisis is an urgent, complex problem, but the solutions don’t have to feel heavy. As a society, the motivation for making change does not have to come from a place of “saviorship” because it will put the burden disproportionately on too small of a group of people willing and able to make an impact. Too often, the narrative around climate action leverages the emotions of guilt and shame, pushing people apart instead of bringing them together. Ironically, these divisive tactics mirror the very fragmentation they aim to solve. To make real progress, we need a different approach, one rooted in resilience, cross-industry creativity, and playful, everyday actions that feel accessible and empowering to more people in their day-to-day lives.
Climate-related examples lead the way
Change thrives on examples that inspire hope and demonstrate what’s possible. When people see tangible, relatable solutions, they’re more likely to join the effort. Creatively Free Studios’ Lumins Treasure Hunt exemplifies this in the emergent game for good.
The in-development augmented reality game makes cleaning up trash in our water bodies and oceans a fun, social, and rewarding experience. Players select their underwater creatures called The Lumins, and adventure to waterbodies where they encounter hidden augmented reality sea glass gem treasures and earn points by picking up and logging trash. Integrating game mechanics like treasure hunts and collectible sea-glass gems transforms what could feel like a chore into a community-driven adventure.
This model shows how blending everyday fun with meaningful action can create momentum. But it’s not the only example of industries making climate action playful and accessible:
1. Circular fashion made easy: ThredUp’s clean-out kits
ThredUp, a secondhand online fashion retailer, turns sustainable clothing consumption into a simple and rewarding experience. With Clean Out Kits, customers can mail in old clothes for resale or recycling. Plus, it is offered as a service to B2B retailers making it accessible to more people from their everyday shopping. The process is designed to be fun and effortless, with sellers earning cash or store credit. By gamifying closet
cleanouts with financial incentives and an easy user experience, ThredUp has empowered millions to participate in reducing fashion waste.
2. Eco-friendly transportation: Lime’s electric scooters
Lime has transformed urban transportation by making sustainable commuting accessible and playful. Their dockless e-scooters and bikes are not only practical but also fun to use. Users unlock scooters through an app, adding a gamified element of discovery as they navigate their cities. By integrating sustainability into a convenient and joyful daily activity, Lime has redefined how people think about green transit.
3. Plant trees through your browser: Ecosia
Have you made the switch in your default browser? Ecosia, the search engine that plants trees, makes environmental restoration a seamless part of everyday life. For every search conducted, the company allocates revenue to tree-planting projects. Users can track how their searches contribute to reforestation, turning the routine online activity into a meaningful climate solution. By connecting small actions to visible impact, Ecosia fosters a sense of agency and empowerment.
Blending industries for bold solutions
The success of these examples rests on a simple truth: we don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just combine the best spokes from different industries. Imagine applying the joy of Lime scooters to citywide cleanup challenges or the ease of Ecosia searches to water conservation efforts. Cross-pollinating ideas can transform how people engage with climate action. OnlyOne uses gamification and reporting to show consumers their impact on important environmental efforts.
Motivation through play, not guilt
Underlying all these innovations is a fundamental shift from guilt-based motivation to play-based empowerment. When people are invited to participate joyfully, they’re more likely to sustain their engagement and recruit others to join. This is where resilience comes in not just in facing the climate crisis but in how we build systems that nurture hope and creativity.
There are many simple actions consumers are doing and shifting in their day-to-day lives. There are many interrelated ways that climate action is a personal path to empowerment for everyone.
The climate solutions we need aren’t about sacrificing joy for survival. They’re about finding joy in the act of survival through collective action, shared stories, and a playful spirit that turns even the smallest actions into meaningful progress.
To dive into more about the Lumins and the emergent AR game, visit here.
Ariel Grace Snapp, Creativity Coach
Ariel Grace Snapp has always been a multi-passionate creative balancing service and the expressions of her soul. She’s a coach for creatives, a tech creative director, intuitive and MacroFloral photographer and host of the Creatively Free podcast. She is particularly interested in co-creating new, collaborative ways to solve social challenges across different sectors. As founder of the Be as Art Business Academy, she offers a depth based journey of the mystical and practical tools for creatives and sensitive people that are ready to birth and scale their huge creative, mission driven projects.
