BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
In the fight against the climate crisis, the words we use matter—and so does ensuring everyone can participate in the conversation. For the British deaf community, discussing critical topics like greenhouse gases and carbon emissions has been a challenge due to a lack of vocabulary in British Sign Language (BSL).
Now, thanks to a dedicated team at the University of Edinburgh’s Scottish Sensory Centre, that gap is closing. Earlier this year, 400 new environmental science terms were approved in BSL, giving deaf individuals the tools to discuss and engage with climate change and its impacts.
“Creating BSL signs for abstract climate concepts is very different from tangible objects like animals, but the process is equally fascinating,” explains Dr. Audrey Cameron, who manages the BSL glossary project.
From finger-spelling to conceptual clarity
Before these new signs were developed, deaf teachers and students often relied on finger-spelling complex terms like greenhouse gases, spelling out each letter individually. This laborious process made it difficult to have fluid discussions on environmental topics.
The new BSL sign for greenhouse gases simplifies this dramatically. Both hands form circular shapes to represent gases in the atmosphere, with gestures illustrating how greenhouse gases trap sunlight. The left hand represents Earth’s surface, while the right hand shows sunlight bouncing off the surface and being trapped—a visually intuitive explanation of the greenhouse effect.
Dr. Cameron notes, “This process requires a deep understanding of scientific processes to create meaningful visual representations.”
Decoding carbon terminology
Given carbon dioxide’s pivotal role in climate change, the team also created a suite of signs centered around carbon-related terms.
The sign for carbon emissions begins with the left hand forming a ‘C’ shape for carbon, while the right hand demonstrates the release of carbon into the atmosphere. The intensity of the hand’s movement reflects varying levels of emissions—rapid for high emissions and slow for lower levels.
Carbon offsetting, another key term, builds on this foundation. The sign begins with the same ‘C’ shape, then both hands illustrate the imbalance of carbon in the atmosphere. The gesture then shows the act of compressing or balancing those levels through measures like planting trees or using carbon capture technologies.
Making climate change visible
The sign for climate change uses a compound gesture that begins with climate. Both hands move in a cloud-like motion, representing weather patterns. The sign transitions to show change, with turning movements illustrating how these patterns shift over time. The speed of the movement can be adjusted to show gradual versus dramatic changes, providing nuanced communication.
This visual approach makes complex climate concepts not only accessible but also engaging for the deaf community. To see the words in action, there is a video available here.
Empowering inclusivity
Dr. Cameron and her team’s work goes beyond vocabulary—it’s about inclusion and empowerment. “We’re ensuring deaf people can fully engage with one of the most pressing issues of our time,” she says.
The newly developed signs reflect a commitment to making climate science accessible to all, demonstrating that inclusivity can amplify the collective effort to address global challenges. As these signs gain traction, they open the door for more inclusive classrooms, workplaces, and communities.
In a time when global action on climate change is critical, this expansion of British Sign Language ensures that no one is left out of the conversation.
