'Humaine warmth'

The title of this article coincides with that of one of the most listened-to podcasts in France: Human warmth, which Nabil Wanik directs and presents for the newspaper Le MondeSince 2022, Wanik has been interviewing people of all kinds each week—politicians, scientists, artists, activists, and businesspeople—with the same underlying question: How do we address climate change, and what can we do to adapt?

I recently had the opportunity to visit Nabil Wanik at the offices of Le MondeIn Paris. He greeted me with great kindness, true to the warm and attentive tone he projects on air. Nabil is of Lebanese origin, married, and has two children. He has lived in Paris for years, but what surprised me most was discovering that he spoke fluent Spanish. He explained that he had spent a year in Andalusia, where he studied Spanish language and culture. Although he hadn't practiced it in a while, we conversed naturally, entirely in Spanish.

The first thing we noticed in our conversation was the declining priority of climate change on the political and social agenda. France is immersed in a considerable political crisis, against a backdrop of uncertainty: the possibility of the far right coming to power. Added to this tension are other issues that monopolize public debate—immigration, the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, and economic reforms—such as the transformation of the pension system, which have relegated climate change to a secondary or tertiary concern.

However, Wanik is not defeatist. His program continues to insist on placing the climate crisis at the center of the public conversation, seeking not only diagnoses but also human stories of commitment and hope.

We will later focus on this aspect of resistance: the difficulty of speaking about, publishing, or echoing scientific reports, which, incidentally, are becoming increasingly pessimistic. Nabil Wanik argues—and I fully agree—that climate change should not be discussed directly or negatively. It is necessary to address it indirectly and positively. The majority of the population is aware of the problem, but does not want to hear a constantly apocalyptic narrative. There is already enough negative news outside the context of climate change without adding more.

The interviews Nabil Wanik has conducted with dozens of prominent figures in the world of science, politics, and media largely reach the same conclusion: direct, fluid, and sincere communication about climate change is essential, but it must be geared toward concrete solutions. A selection of these interviews has been published in book form. Chaleur humaine: 18 responses to the climatic threat

For example, scientist Valérie Masson-Delmotte explained that since she started cycling, many things in her life have changed, as well as her understanding of the world and climate change. Other guests recounted similar decisions, such as switching to an electric car or reducing energy consumption at home. These are individual steps that many people can take, and however small they may seem, they have symbolic and practical value.

However, major transformations must come from collective measures: pedestrianizing streets, greening urban spaces, creating shaded areas or safe and comfortable bike paths, decarbonizing with renewable energy, and so on. These initiatives not only reduce emissions but also improve quality of life and strengthen the sense of community. Perhaps, deep down, that's what it all means. Human warmthA society capable of warming each other's hearts to face a better future.

To cultivate our budding relationship, we have invited Nabil to visit Mallorca next spring and give a lecture aimed at journalists. He has promised to come.