Peking University, July 11, 2025: Dr. Wang Binbin from Peking University's Institute for Carbon Neutrality has recently proposed a new conceptual framework called “3C leadership” to guide a more fruitful and inclusive narrative regarding climate change, in the context of a fragmented communication system plaguing much of the climate discourse of today.

Her opinion piece has been published in an article titled “Unmuting the message: Climate communication in a complex world” on One Earth, which is the Cell Press’s flagship sustainability journal. This article includes opinion pieces from 7 other scholars exploring the intricate relationships between climate change communication and global politics.

Wang has recognized that the past awareness-raising-tactics through “scaring”, or exclusively focusing on climate crisis, only stoked undue anxiety since little could be done on the individual level. Thus a new communication strategy is needed to inject momentum into what will hopefully become actionable solutions.

The “3C leadership”—curiosity, courage, and compassion—was proposed by the Climate Future Global Innovation Lab (C Force), of which Wang is the founding director. These three core values are aimed at “rebuilding the connections between inner-self, others, and the world to reorient one’s mission in life toward the harmony between human and nature.”

She hopes that with the 3C leadership as guidance, scientists can step out of their own “research silos” to embrace connections between climate and other SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), which can give climate urgency a broader social background and spur more packaged solutions.

Moreover, she argues that positive sentiment is also needed in climate narratives which often paint a bleak picture. “Then, step by step, hope can be rebuilt and more people will be encouraged with actionable solutions to bridge the gaps gradually.”


Written by: Chen Shizhuo
Edited by: Zhang Jiang
Source: https://www.cell.com/one-earth/fulltext/S2590-3322(25)00169-1