Breaking Down the Climate Jargon: A Path to Inclusive Action
By Gayatri Vijay Kale
As the urgency to act on climate change intensifies, so does the noise surrounding it—buzzwords, jargon, and complex policies that often leave people more confused than empowered. While scientists and academics across the world are producing incredible research, we must ask: are we doing enough to translate this knowledge into language that resonates with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and everyday individuals?
Television headlines regularly spotlight climate change and its devastating impacts, but the language used—often lifted directly from policy documents—can feel distant and inaccessible. Terms like “Just Transition” and “Net Zero” dominate public discourse, but what do they actually mean for local businesses already stretched thin by inflation, workforce challenges, and global instability.
The question isn’t just rhetorical—it’s deeply personal. As someone who recently graduated with a degree in International Project Management, I found myself increasingly drawn to sustainability and climate action. Like many international students in the UK, I quickly realized how difficult it is to secure a job without prior UK work experience. It takes a lot of resilience and adaptability—qualities many of us build through sheer determination.
Fortunately, through my university, I managed to connect with an SME (MBM Print SCS Ltd.) in Scotland and contributed to a market research project that later expanded into initiating a carbon accounting process. That was my first real encounter with sustainability jargon—and it was overwhelming. The final audit report was so dense with technical terms that even I struggled to interpret it.
Later, when invited to share my experience at a workshop organised by Clyde Gateway on the Net Zero journey for SMEs, I met several business owners and accountants who voiced similar frustrations. Many found the process confusing and difficult to navigate. Some had received reports but didn’t know how to act on them. Others weren’t even sure where to start. While a few took the initiative to attend workshops and training sessions, countless others remained disconnected simply because the language wasn’t accessible.
In this global climate emergency, should we really be making the path to sustainability harder to follow?
If SMEs make up the backbone of most economies, then achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement requires making climate knowledge more approachable. We must simplify the conversation—without diluting the science—so grassroots organisations and small businesses can meaningfully engage, adapt, and thrive in a sustainable future.
It’s not just about translating policy into plain language. It’s about creating an ecosystem where climate action feels achievable, not intimidating—where solutions are shared, not shelved behind acronyms and ambiguity. It needs to be more digestible so that climate actions can be more adaptable.
Only then can we build a truly inclusive and effective climate movement.
Bio about writer:
Gayatri Vijay Kale is a recent MSc graduate in International Project Management with a strong passion for sustainability, the circular economy, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She enjoys exploring the intersection of culture, climate, and community through research and storytelling. Outside of her academic and professional interests, Gayatri finds joy in Bollywood dancing, traveling, and learning new languages. She is open to collaborations on research projects and article writing, especially in areas related to sustainability and cross-cultural exchange.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gayatri-kale-be-good-do-good/