Course:CONS200/2025FL1/Conservation celebrities and their impact on public understanding of environmental issues

Background

Over the past two decades, there has been a notable increase in environmental awareness across various types of media. Whether it is through documentaries, TV shows, climate movements, or even conferences, it is often accompanied by a celebrity conservationist who showcases their passion in their chosen media in the hope of moving towards climate action. But what does it mean to be a celebrity conservationist? First, it is important to understand the difference between a celebrity conservationist and a conservationist celebrity. At first glance, they are the same. But the distinction lies in the effectiveness of media visibility, but they are uninterested in matching that commitment.  These definitions are usually used for politicians or entertainers. Compared to a celebrity conservationist, these are celebrities who enjoy public recognition while publicly supporting environmental causes. As such, celebrity conservationists can be categorized into two types of engagement: advocacy and activism.

Defining these two public engagements is important, although there is overlap between the two; the method, approach, and strategy can be different. The advocacy approach tends to be less confrontational in changing attitudes. While providing the most accurate information and sufficient evidence, it focuses on building consensus and is a formal attempt to influence political powers or the general public. The activism approach involves taking direct actions to draw immediate attention to an important issue. Involving direct and group-based actions to focus on reimagining institutions and promoting transformational change. Both definitions are different from each other, but the intentions are the same; it is only a matter of how the celebrity conservationist wants to convey their message. Whether it is through activism in protests or advocacy through research and TV shows, many celebrity conservationists find their way to be passionate about the environment to the public. More notably, Jane Goodall, through her works in primatology, Bill Nye and his nostalgic TV show, Greta Thunberg’s passion through activism works, and David Suzuki’s advocacy in conservation efforts.

Their choice of media varies with these environmentalists, but what is important is how these messages are being framed. By framing their message effectively, these celebrity environmentalists can influence public understanding of environmental issues and mobilize grassroots and systemic action. Language and tones, when used effectively, also influence message framing. A playful but serious policy-making undertone can effectively communicate with younger audiences whose understanding of climate change is newly introduced. This is exemplified in Bill Nye’s action to activism, where his shift from The Science Guy to Saves the World targets his nostalgic audience to develop a critical perception of the Earth’s health, ultimately encouraging civic action and voting for systemic change. Another contrasting example of media message framing is Greta Thunberg, who employs a rhetoric of moral urgency and indictment to challenge intergenerational justice and compel immediate, large-scale protest.

Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg's "Skolstrejk för klimatet."

Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg, known as "Greta Thunberg," is a Swedish conservation activist and public figure. Born January 3rd, 2003, Greta is a member of "Gen Z," the world's first digital generation and is labelled as a natural leader in climate action of said generation. She reached the public eye in August of 2018 with her first strike at only 15 years old. She aimed to raise awareness of climate inaction, and targeted her local politicians. Her solo climate strike involved skipping school to sit outside the Swedish parliament with a sign reading "Skolstrejk för klimatet" (school strike for climate). This strike was picked up by the Swedish media, inspiring the global “Fridays for the Future” movement. By March 2019, this movement had accumulated over one million people— 2,200 protests over 125 countries.

Brisbane climate strike, 3 days before UN Climate Action Summit.

During her speech at the UN Climate Action Summit on September 23rd, 2019, Thunberg stated "How dare you.," a line which would then be shared millions of times across the web. Through social media, people have gathered globally in support of Greta's efforts to bring attention to climate change. Her anti-establishment demeanor inspires real change, defying the idea that individuals have no power. Thunberg's iconic yellow raincoat has become an image of climate action across the world, and has mobilized crowds through sheer determination and grit. She influenced individuals like Luisa Neubauer, Licypriya Kangujam, and Anjali Sharma to become activists in their own countries. As Thunberg continues to strike, she continues to grab media attention everywhere she goes.

By 2020, Greta Thunberg had become a name taught in schools as a pilgrim of climate activism in the new generation. She continues to destigmatize issues surrounding climate change, and sharing opinions on her public instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts. Greta's efforts have become so widespread that they have gained the title: The Greta Effect. The Greta Effect refers to the visibility, attention, and awareness media has brought to climate inaction. Her activism has attracted the attention of news anchors, politicians, and online engagement— all which have inspired real change in the world.

Bill Nye

Bill Nye speaking at Politicon. Pasadena, California.

William Sanford Nye, also known as “Bill Nye”, is a celebrity conservationist who integrates comedy with a fun, lively personality to create a space where he can communicate science to anyone, ranging from kids to adults. His most recognizable work is the hit children's TV show, “Bill Nye the Science Guy”. Most people, specifically those who’ve watched Bill Nye in their childhood, feel nostalgia whenever Bill Nye is seen in recent media. Rather than focusing on science-related topics, Bill Nye has shifted his narrative towards advocacy for conservation for the future. Leveraging the fact that the kids who have watched his shows in the past are all grown up, he focuses on topics that raise awareness of climate change and advocates to the same people who watched him in the past to be concerned and take action. As such, Bill Nye has influenced a growing audience when it comes to age and has pushed an agenda of climate awareness through advocacy through public appearances in recent media.

Aside from his popular TV show in the 1990s, Bill Nye’s recent media, “Bill Nye Saves the World,” is oriented for an adult audience. What’s unique about Bill Nye’s reappearance on a TV show is how people welcomed his return. Having that image as “the Science Guy” has brought back nostalgia among others. As mentioned before, using the leverage of kids who are now adults would watch the show out of pure nostalgia. Knowing this, Bill Nye essentially frames his messages in such a way as to advocate climate action. For example, in one of his episodes, he talks about ocean acidification and its current state with potential outcomes. As serious as the topic is for climate impacts, it was still a new topic for young adults. But after watching the episode, their awareness of climate impacts has improved, and their understanding of ocean acidification has dramatically increased. This is effective because, using his role as the “Science Guy,” people naturally shifted to watching his new show to experience nostalgia like before. But instead of a science show that talks about interesting details, they are met with a message on climate awareness. This target audience is now left with a message that will hopefully make them concerned about the changing climate. In the end, this was Bill Nye’s goal: to send a message to those who have watched him before, become concerned about the planet that they live on.

David Suzuki

David Suzuki shares his message about protecting the environment through media, education, and public outreach. Instead of just giving scientific facts, he explains environmental issues in ways that connect with people’s emotions and everyday lives. His TV show The Nature of Things shows how he turns complex science into interesting stories that help people understand how humans affect nature. Suzuki uses visuals and storytelling to make these topics easier to follow and more meaningful. Outside of television, his David Suzuki Foundation and the Blue Dot Movement show how he takes communication beyond words, encouraging people and governments to take real action for the planet. By mixing clear facts with emotional and moral messages, Suzuki helps people see both the logic and importance of caring for the Earth. His communication style, which is clear, passionate, and evidence-driven, has made him one of the most influential voices in modern environmental conservation

Conclusion

Celebrities have great impacts on public knowledge and public action. They are public facing people, and their words have the ability to change the way people think and how they will act. Conservation celebrities' activism allows the public to make informed decisions via the wide-spreading of knowledge, and raising awareness. They are able to share opinions through mass-followed platforms such as social media. Their influence has a massive reach across social media, and the liking, commenting, and sharing that comes with it. Celebrities can mobilize public action, and influence others to create their own change. Celebrities like Greta Thunberg, Bill Nye, and David Suzuki have had a great impact on the public's understanding of environmental issues because they have chosen to build or use their platforms around the climate.

Greta Thunberg has broken a massive knowledge-gap between climate action and inaction, and has caused climate strikes with huge successes in real change in bills and politics. Bill Nye has educated both the adults and children of the public on the issues of climate change, and has sparked interest in creating change from a young age. David Suzuki has published film highlighting the personal and emotional connection people have to the environment, promoting the act of saving it.

References

This conservation resource was created by Course:CONS200.