“425 PPM”, read the number on the giant screen. She saw three such screens in three different spots within the same building.
This was the number that greeted everyone who visited the Global Institute of Climate Change – Institut du changement climatique as it was known locally – located in the center of Paris.
It stood for 425 parts per million – the amount of CO2 (by volume) present in our atmosphere.
The folks running the org seemed to go by the motto “Seeing is feeling”.
It was not clear that the motto was achieved with Cheryl. She did not seem to be unduly concerned when she saw the number as she entered the place. This was the first time she was coming here, and it had nothing to do with climate – though something to do with change.
She was looking for a change in career.
Henri looked at Cheryl for a few seconds before kicking off the interview. It’s a pity that there were no marks allotted for looking pretty, he thought.
Cheryl had applied for a role in public relations. Given the growing awareness of climate change, the Institute needed someone who could communicate effectively with the research work done there.
“You do have an excellent resume, Cheryl”
“Merci”
“But, your entire career so far has been in sectors that have little to do with environment or climate change. In fact, most of your roles have been in industries that cause the most amount of climate change – mining, steel, cement…”
“That is indeed true,” admitted Cheryl, wondering why, knowing this quite well, he bothered to call her for the interview.
But she had not spent ten years in communications and marketing for nothing.
“You see, monsieur, that’s precisely why you should choose me. I can relate to climate change better than most because of my background.”
This lady had some presence of mind, admitted Henri to himself. Still, can she be effective in communicating their research in a way the world understood?
“You see, Cheryl, one challenge we have is to make climate change more “visible” to the public at large. That will require communicating in ways they can relate to.”
“Precisely.”
“Can you give me some ideas on how you would do this?”
Cheryl thought for a moment.