Introduction
Actions aimed at reducing the pace and impacts of climate change are now occurring at a variety of scales in the public and private sectors – mostly in enclaves of progressive businesses, organizations, states and communities.
Yet, evidence shows that traditional means of communicating climate change continue to be largely ineffective at reaching the broader public and stimulating behavioral/personal, organizational/ institutional change at a broader scale.
While a large majority of Americans now know and are concerned about climate change, most do not feel a sense of urgency to act on the problem.
• Why – if people know about climate change – is there no sense of urgency?
• How have communicators of climate change succeeded or failed in conveying the challenge of climate change?
• Can better communication of climate change lead to more concerted societal response to the problem, and if so, what and how should communicators talk about climate change?
• What other factors hinder or facilitate societal response and social change?
These broad questions require multi-disciplinary answers. This project therefore brings together experts in communication with those on behavior and social change. We hope to advance understanding in this crucial area of human dimensions of global change research, but also generate practically useful strategies for communicators, advocates, policy-makers, and social change agents to promote needed action to minimize and be better prepared for climate change and related hazards.
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The Institute for the Study of Society and Environment is part of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which is managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. |
