Climate Change Communication by a Research Institute: Experiences, Successes, and Challenges from a North European Perspective

Abstract

Communicating about climate change is challenging not only because of the multidisciplinary and complex nature of the issue itself and multiple policy options related to mitigation and adaptation, but also because of the plenitude of potential communication methods coupled with limited resources for communication. This article explores climate change communication based on experiences from different campaigns by a national level research institution. Lessons learned are discussed in a context of increasing projectification and budget austerity. Possible solutions for enhanced communication include simultaneous use of multiple communication channels, the creation of novel partnerships, focusing on solutions, and the use of peer communication.

New challenges for communication for sustainable development and social change: a review essay

“…Climate change communication even seems to become a field in itself (CI Drum Beat issue no. 482;Kelly 2012;Lyytimäki et al 2013). Different from agricultural extension, but maybe similar to areas within health communication, environmental communication, especially climate change communication, often focuses on public engagement and public opinion (see, for instance, http://www.climatechangecommunication.org) and risk (see, for instance, AfricaAdapt, Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d.).…”

European Climate Change Perceptions: Public support for mitigation and adaptation policies

“…Regular outreach from the scientific community to the public is necessary given the constantly progressing scientific understanding of CC as well as its resulting impacts and consequences (Lyytimäki et al ., ). As a result, many risk and CC communication programmes exist, focusing primarily on informing and educating the public with the goal to foster behavioural changes that would support the successful mitigation of and adaptation to CC (Moser, ; Nerlich et al ., ).…”

Disciplines in the Field of Communication for Development and Social Change

“…The subdiscipline of environmental communication seems to be dominated by the issue of climate change, which has been on the agenda for a few years now. Climate change communication even seems to become a field in itself (Kelly, ; Lyytimäki et al, ; Servaes, , ). Different from agricultural extension, but maybe similar to areas within health communication, environmental communication, especially climate change communication, often focuses on public engagement and public opinion (see, for instance, http://www.climatechangecommunication.org) and risk (see, for instance, AfricaAdapt, Stockholm Environment Institute., n.d.).…”