Climate Research Topics: Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
Climate change communications have been increasingly recognized as key contributors – among a number of factors – that affect climate change science and policy discourse as well as shape actions. Translation has taken shape through many media, from news publishers, editors, and journalists who disseminate information, largely through newspapers, magazines, television, radio and the internet, to graphic designers, architects, painters and sculptors.
The intersection of mass media, and climate change science and policy is a dynamic and high-stakes arena of communications. Mass media representational practices affect translations between science and policy and, furthermore, shape public perception of global climate change. Previous studies have found that the public garners much of its knowledge about science from media. Moreover, research has shown that accurate knowledge of the causes of global climate change is the strongest predictor of a person’s stated intentions to act. Thus, it is important to consider the role of media in climate science and policy, and media portrayals of climate change, many of which have centered on aspects regarding human contributions to climate change.
Current Projects
- Climateeducation.net
Climateeducation.net is a global programme which aims to encourage the sharing of high quality information about climate science, modelling and the interpretation of climate change modelling experiments. It will do this by offering two short online courses and supporting an online community of knowledge sharing in regional climate prediction.
- Climate Change and the Public Sphere
2010 - 2011
This project aims to explore if, and in what ways, members of the public from the Australian Capital Region alter their underlying dispositions and policy preferences when exposed to climate change information.
- Oxfordshire United
2010 - 2011
This project is looking into the possibilities that sport and sporting approaches could bring to the pro-environmental movement
- Climate-X-Change
Sep 2006 - 2010
A campaign to engage with Oxfordshires 620,000 citizens taking climate change into the community.
- 2004-2009 World Newspaper Coverage of Climate Change or Global Warming
Nov 2008 onwards
This figure, updated monthly, tracks newspaper coverage of climate change or global warming in 50 newspapers across 20 countries and 6 continents.
Archived Projects
- How discourses influence environmental science, policy and practice
Sep 2007
Discourses shape oft-contested interactions across space and time, and articulate knowledge and power. A number of ECI projects examine these interactions.
- TippingPoint 2007
Sep 2007
The 2007 TippingPoint event is the 3rd consecutive year we have brought together artists and scientists to explore alternative approaches to communicating climate change
- Global Nielsen survey of consumer attitudes to climate change
Jun 2007
A global Nielsen survey of over 26,486 internet users across 47 countries in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, to assess attitudes to climate change.
- Media coverage of climate change – current trends, strengths and weaknesses
Sep 2006 - Sep 2007
A comprehensive survey of the role of the media in informing and communicating climate change.
- Mass media influences on climate science, policy and the public
Sep 2006 - Sep 2007
Comparative analyses of public discourse between the United States and the United Kingdom on climate change at the triple interface of science, policy, and mass media.
- Climate Briefing Day for Artists
Jun 2007
A one day briefing on climate change for artists. Powerpoint presentations are available to download
- TippingPoint 2006
Sep 2006
A two day event to bring together acclaimed artists and scientists to explore alternative approaches to communicating climate change.
- Celebrity Involvement in Climate Change Science, Media and Policy
Sep 2006 - Sep 2007
This project examines the role of climate change-related celebrity endeavors and initiatives, and interrogates how these activities influence discourse and actions at the climate science and policy interface.
- BBC Climate Challenge Game
Launched Jan 2007
As president of the European Nations, you can play this interactive game to see how you would tackle climate change between 2000 and 2100. The ECI provided the scientific knowledge underpinning this game for the BBC.
- Climate and Art: an encounter between scientists and artists
Sep 2005
The first two day event to bring together acclaimed artists and scientists and strengthen links between the two communities to engage and collaborate in tackling the climate change debate.