In response to COP26, young activists have called for world leaders to ditch their ‘empty speeches’ and ‘pretty words’. You can watch this video (from 01:27) to hear thoughts on what they want to see happen in response to the climate crisis—namely, increased ambition and true action in combatting climate change.

Speech giving is an ornamental and performative practice, and in appearing at high-profile gatherings like COP26, leaders are expected to present speeches that will address the urgency of the problem at hand and declare their plans to tackle it—yet there is increasing pressure on those leaders to actively demonstrate their sincerity and their intention to help solve the problem they are speaking on.

Of course the best way to action your speech message is to actually deliver on the promises you make in your speech.

One way to do this is to outline, in your speech, any policies or programmes currently being implemented by your organisation or administration to tackle the issue head on. Emphasise the actions being taken right now as you speak. Substantiate your speech by stating the provable measures you are taking today.

A second way to demonstrate your commitment to the issue you are addressing is to perform a highly symbolic gesture to underscore your message. An excellent recent example of this Simon Kofe, foreign minister of Tuvalu—a small island in the South Pacific—who stood knee-deep in seawater to deliver his remarks to COP26, to actively demonstrate how the climate crisis is affecting the Tuvalu nation. The image of Kofe standing at his lectern in the ocean is so compelling that it went viral, proving the broad public appetite for bold action in response to the issue. While the stance is dramatic, it is also in itself an extraordinary gesture, signalling the speaker’s awareness and ambition to act on the issue of climate change.

The bottom line? In these challenging times, a speech needs to ‘walk the talk’.

Want more tips for how to demonstrate your commitment to your message? Contact me here.