In an effort to make climate conversations more inclusive and accessible, Mumbai Climate Week has launched the People’s Climate Dictionary, a public resource aimed at breaking down complex climate terminology into language that resonates with everyday citizens.
The dictionary was formally unveiled at the close of a session on Storytelling and Climate Action, moderated by writer and filmmaker Sumit Roy, known for his work on Homebound and Rocky and Rani. The session examined how narratives shape public understanding of climate change and emphasised the critical role language plays in determining who feels included in climate discourse.
The launch featured an introduction by Jhoomar Mehta and Sudipti Saxena, founders of Prod, who underscored the urgent need to simplify climate vocabulary. They argued that while the impacts of climate change are widely experienced, the terminology surrounding it often remains confined to experts, policymakers and institutions.
“The climate crisis is lived by everyone, but the language of climate change is not,” the founders noted during the unveiling. “When terminology becomes inaccessible, it excludes people from meaningful participation and decision-making.”
The People’s Climate Dictionary seeks to address this disconnect by translating technical climate jargon into citizen-friendly language rooted in lived realities. Rather than offering textbook definitions, the initiative reflects how climate change manifests in everyday life from rising temperatures and flooding to food prices and public health concerns.
An initiative of Mumbai Climate Week, the dictionary has been curated by Prod in collaboration with Project Mumbai. Its definitions were developed through consultations with citizens and young people, ensuring that the language mirrors on-the-ground experiences.
Organisers said this participatory approach was central to the project’s philosophy. By grounding climate terminology in community voices, the dictionary aims to foster deeper engagement and empower individuals to recognise how global climate shifts affect local contexts.
The launch’s placement at a storytelling-focused session was deliberate. Speakers highlighted that storytelling not only informs but also shapes perception, empathy and action. When climate language becomes more accessible, they argued, it opens doors for broader civic participation from neighbourhood-level initiatives to policy advocacy.
As climate-related events intensify across India, organisers said tools like the People’s Climate Dictionary are essential for ensuring that conversations move beyond technical circles and into homes, schools and communities.
With this initiative, Mumbai Climate Week positions itself not just as a platform for dialogue but as a catalyst for inclusive climate literacy, an approach that recognises language as a foundational step toward collective climate action.
