Climate Change Communication:Bridging Research and Practice

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Matthew C. NisbetAssociate ProfessorNortheastern University

Building a Global Research Community

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Building a Global Research Community

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Translating Research for Climate Scientists

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Gifford, R. (2011). The dragons of inaction: Psychological barriers that limit climate change mitigation & adaptation. American Psychologist, 66(4), 290.

@MCNisbetScruggs, L., & Benegal, S. (2012). Declining public concern about climate change: Can we blame the great recession?. Global Environmental Change, 22(2), 505-515.

Telling Stories about Wicked Problems

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o The more complex a problem like climate change, the more equally plausible discourses and narratives exist about what should be done.

o Climate change serves as an opportunity for different groups to mobilize on behalf of their values, goals and vision for society.

o Climate change is “a synecdoche – a figurative turn of phrase in which something stands in for something else—for something much more important than simply the way humans are changing the weather,” – Mike Hulme

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Nisbet, M. C. (2014). Disruptive ideas: public intellectuals and their arguments for action on climate change. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 5(6), 809-823.

Science Literacy and Identity Protective Cognition

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Dan Kahan

Kahan, D. M., Peters, E., Wittlin, M., Slovic, P., Ouellette, L. L., Braman, D., & Mandel, G. (2012). The polarizing impact of science literacy and numeracy on perceived climate change risks. Nature Climate Change, 2(10), 732-735.

News Corp Owned Media Reinforce DoubtOverall tone at U.S. cable news networks

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Feldman et al. (2011). Climate on cable: The nature and impact of global warming coverage on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC. The International Journal of Press/Politics, 1940161211425410.

Recruiting and Cultivating Opinion-Leaders

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o Follow closely news and events related to climate change, energy issues, and public affairs.

o Among peers, are trusted sources of information on these topics & frequently share information.

o Are more politically active and more involved in their communities.

o Early adopters of climate-friendly behaviors & technologies, and talk them up with others, providing advice and recommendations.

Nisbet, M. C., & Kotcher, J. E. (2009). A two-step flow of influence? Opinion-leader campaigns on climate change. Science Communication.

Roser-Renouf, C., Maibach, E. W., Leiserowitz, A., & Zhao, X. (2014). The genesis of climate change activism: from key beliefs to political action. Climatic change, 125(2), 163-178.

Turcotte, J., York, C., Irving, J., Scholl, R. M., & Pingree, R. J. (2015). News recommendations from social media opinion leaders: effects on media trust and information seeking. Journal of Computer‐Mediated Communication, 20(5), 520-535.

Framing Judgments and Decisions

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Nisbet, M. C. (2009). Communicating climate change: Why frames matter for public engagement. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 51(2), 12-23.

Framing Judgments and Decisions

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Nisbet, M. C. (2009). Communicating climate change: Why frames matter for public engagement. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 51(2), 12-23.

Reframing the Conversation:Emphasizing Proximity and Societal Co-benefits

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Reframing the Conversation:Emphasizing Proximity and Societal Co-benefits

@MCNisbetMyers, T. A., Nisbet, M. C., Maibach, E. W., & Leiserowitz, A. A. (2012). A public health frame arouses hopeful emotions about climate change. Climatic Change, 113(3-4), 1105-1112.

Climate Change and Oceans:A Matter of Protecting Local Public Health

@MCNisbetSchuldt, J. P., McComas, K. A., & Byrne, S. E. (2016). Communicating about ocean health: theoretical and practical considerations. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, 371(1689), 20150214.

Reframing the Conversation:Decreasing Angry Counter-Arguments

@MCNisbetMyers, T. A., Nisbet, M. C., Maibach, E. W., & Leiserowitz, A. A. (2012). A public health frame arouses hopeful emotions about climate change. Climatic Change, 113(3-4), 1105-1112.

Reframing the Conversation:Emphasizing Hope and Sense of Efficacy

@MCNisbetMyers, T. A., Nisbet, M. C., Maibach, E. W., & Leiserowitz, A. A. (2012). A public health frame arouses hopeful emotions about climate change. Climatic Change, 113(3-4), 1105-1112.

Reframing the Conversation:Emphasizing Hope and Sense of Efficacy

@MCNisbetMyers, T. A., Nisbet, M. C., Maibach, E. W., & Leiserowitz, A. A. (2012). A public health frame arouses hopeful emotions about climate change. Climatic Change, 113(3-4), 1105-1112.

Best Practices in Effective Science Communication

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o Be policy relevant, not policy prescriptive. Rather than arguing for

specific policy outcome, work to make sure that science is used in reaching decision. Try to expand discussion of policy options and solutions, rather than narrow them.

o Partner with other experts and stakeholders who can speak to multiple dimensions of climate change. Emphasize consensus evidence endorsed by diversity of expert bodies or groups.

o Openly talk about uncertainty and be transparent in how uncertainty is resolved and conclusions reached. Emphasize openness to scrutiny and correction by peers, journalists, and the public.

Jamieson, K. H., & Hardy, B. W. (2014). Leveraging scientific credibility about Arctic sea ice trends in a polarized political environment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(Supplement 4), 13598-13605; Druckman, JN (2015). Communicating Policy-Relevant Science. PS: Political Science & Politics , 48 (S1), 58-69.

Bridging Research and Practice

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Bridging Research and Practice

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