Module 3: Climate Communications
Learning Objectives
The learning objectives for this module are:
- Recognize the distinction between strategic communications and ‘raising awareness’;
- Identify common psychological barriers in climate communications and learn approaches to address them in adaptation engagement; and
- Apply key concepts of strategic communications (identifying audiences/collaborators, framing, messengers, values alignment, empathy, core needs) to specific examples and scenarios.
Readings and Media
Required
Stop Raising Awareness Already, Ann Christiano, Annie Neimand
https://ssir.org/articles/entry/stop_raising_awareness_already
The Preparation Frame: A Guide to Building Understanding of Climate Impacts and Engagement in Solutions
https://climateaccess.org/preparation-frame (need to join to access. But joining is free)
Communicating Changing Risk – (scroll to Susanne Moser response)
https://riskcenter.wharton.upenn.edu/digital-dialogues/communicating-changing-risk/
The Psychology of Climate Communication
http://guide.cred.columbia.edu/pdfs/CREDguide_full-res.pdf
Having the climate conversation: Strategies for Local Governments – ICLEI
https://icleicanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/having_the_climate_conversation.pdf (P. 16, 17, 23-26, 29, 30)
Talking it Through: A Discussion Guide for Local Government Staff on Climate Adaptation
https://data.fcm.ca/documents/resources/MCIP/talking-it-through-discussion-guide.pdf (P. 16, Matrix for identifying key audiences/partners)
For Case Studies:
- https://icleicanada.org/project/adaptation-changemakers-project/
- https://data.fcm.ca/documents/resources/MCIP/talking-it-through-discussion-guide.pdf
- https://www.portland.gov/sites/default/files/2019-07/cap-equity-case-study-web29jul.pdf
Optional
From Facts to Frames: Examining Dominant and Alternative Meanings of Climate Change in Public Deliberation Initiative
https://www.albertaclimatedialogue.ca/chapters/from-facts-to-frames
Improving Public Engagement With Climate Change: Five “Best Practice” Insights From Psychological Science, van der Linden, Maibach, Leiserowitz
https://spia.princeton.edu/system/files/research/documents/PPS.pdf
Climate Change Communications and Indigenous Publics
https://oxfordre.com/climatescience/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228620.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228620-e-411 (Note: not available without a login).
Best Practices: Communicating on Climate Change – Clean BC
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11jZYAkSjAIvNSa2dLenyOqCSC4u9NIa9/view
What do Canadians Really Think about Climate Change – Climate Access; Climate Narratives Project
Communicating adaptation to climate change: the art and science of public engagement when climate change comes home – Susanne Moser
http://susannemoser.com/documents/Moser_Navigatingtheterrainofadaptation_prepub_final_001.pdf
