Comedians Take the UN Stage to Argue Humor Can Break Climate Silence
UNHQ Side Events • United NationsSeptember 22, 2026
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At a United Nations General Assembly side event, a Daily Show writer and a British stand-up comedian made the case that jokes — not lectures — are the most effective way to get people talking about climate change, and that the real punchline is who's actually to blame.
- Daily Show writer argues late-night comedy "sneaks vegetables in," embedding climate science into entertainment millions already watch
- UK comedian reveals 1982 internal fossil fuel memo proving industry knew its product caused global warming
- Panelists call individual carbon guilt a fossil fuel industry strategy that paralyzes collective action
- Gen Z and Gen Alpha show growing awareness that sustainable choices have been systematically denied to them
- Only 10% of people are true climate deniers — but that figure rises to 40% in the US Senate, comedian says
The Hollywood Climate Summit partnered with the UN SDG Media Zone to convene a panel during the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22, exploring whether comedy can succeed where white papers and dire warnings have stalled. The session brought together Nicole Conlan, a writer for The Daily Show and co-host of The Climate Deniers Playbook podcast, and Stuart Goldsmith, a UK stand-up comedian who tours a full climate-themed show called "Canary," moderated by Shel Winkley, chief meteorologist at Climate Central.
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