Creating a Climate for Change: Communicating Climate Change and Facilitating Social Change

Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Introduction......Page 29
A persistent conundrum......Page 31
Lack of immediacy......Page 33
Solution skepticism......Page 34
Political economy and injustice......Page 35
Uncertain science as a political battlefield......Page 36
Media practices and trends......Page 37
Alarmism and other ineffective ways to create urgency......Page 38
Barriers to action......Page 39
Psychological barriers......Page 40
Lack of political will and leadership......Page 41
A fresh approach......Page 42
Book organization and chapter preview......Page 44
Whats left unheard and maybe unsaid......Page 48
Notes......Page 49
References......Page 51
PART ONE Communicating climate change......Page 57
Introduction......Page 59
Conflating weather and climate......Page 61
Weather extremes as evidence for (or against) global warming......Page 62
Causes of climate change: natural or human?......Page 64
Strategies to improve public understanding of climate change......Page 66
Notes......Page 68
References......Page 69
Introduction......Page 72
Risk perceptions of global warming......Page 75
Affective images of global warming......Page 76
Interpretive communities of climate change......Page 79
Strategy 1: Highlight potential local and regional climate change impacts......Page 81
Strategy 2: Climate change is happening now......Page 82
Strategy 3: Highlight the potential impacts of climate change on human health and extreme weather events......Page 83
Strategy 4: Talk openly about remaining uncertainties......Page 84
Strategy 5: Tailor messages and messengers for particular interpretive communities......Page 85
References......Page 89
Introduction......Page 92
Emotional responses to climate change information......Page 93
The critical importance of emotions......Page 94
The danger of unhampered and unattended emotions......Page 95
Emotional appeals to create urgency......Page 97
Greater self-reflexivity among communicators......Page 100
From fear appeals to fostering true hope......Page 101
From defense mechanisms to embracing positive values......Page 102
Notes......Page 103
References......Page 104
Issue cultures......Page 109
Bridging metaphors......Page 111
Cultural whirlwinds......Page 112
The prospects of global warming as a marketable problem......Page 113
Notes......Page 115
References......Page 116
5 The challenge of trying to make a difference using media messages......Page 117
Roadblock 1: Existing beliefs will have a stronger impact on your message than vice versa......Page 118
Roadblock 2: The strongest message effects may be unintended ones......Page 119
Roadblock 3: All information channels are not created equal......Page 120
Roadblock 4: Experiences matter more than data......Page 122
Roadblock 5: Audiences who specialize in "fast and frugal" information processing are poor targets for complex science explanations......Page 124
Roadblock 6: The power of journalism to influence perceptions of big, long-term issues such as global climate change is muted in a landscape rich with other influences......Page 126
So, what's the good news?......Page 127
References......Page 129
A city synonymous with its climate......Page 133
An innovative strategy born of experience......Page 134
Survey design, distribution, and response......Page 136
Energy......Page 137
Air......Page 139
Transportation......Page 140
Lessons learned......Page 141
Notes......Page 144
References......Page 145
Environmental justice......Page 147
Framing climate justice......Page 149
Textbox 7.1 Bali Principles of Climate Justice, developed by the International Climate Justice Network - August 28, 2002......Page 150
6. The US Must Lead......Page 153
10. Protect Future Generations......Page 154
Lack of environmental concern?......Page 158
Case 1: Roxbury, MA......Page 159
Case 2: Economically distressed communities in rural Southwest Oregon......Page 160
Framing the problem......Page 161
Empowering messages......Page 162
An asset-based approach......Page 163
Conclusions......Page 164
References......Page 165
8 Postcards from the (not so) frozen North: Talking about climate change in Alaska......Page 167
Early warning......Page 168
Beyond persuasion: coping with climate change......Page 170
Reframing climate change in Alaska......Page 173
Toward unification and empowerment......Page 175
Textbox 8.1 The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA)......Page 176
Notes......Page 178
References......Page 179
Introduction......Page 181
Denominational statements, resolutions, and open letters......Page 182
Other resources......Page 183
Dialing into the moral compass......Page 184
Relying on credible information sources......Page 185
Acknowledging doubts and making room for the doubters......Page 186
Drawing strength from history......Page 187
Faith into action: cleaning up our own house - what are we called to do?......Page 188
Lighten up on guilt......Page 189
Telling stories of interconnectedness......Page 190
Making the far-away tangible, meaningful......Page 191
Conclusion......Page 192
References......Page 193
10 Einstein, Roosevelt, and the atom bomb: lessons learned for scientists communicating climate change......Page 195
Getting the word out......Page 196
The message and the messenger......Page 197
The long road to implementation......Page 198
For better or worse?......Page 199
Getting the word out......Page 200
Proper channels......Page 202
The message and the messenger......Page 203
Delivering the message......Page 204
The long road to policy change......Page 205
Notes......Page 206
References......Page 207
11 Across the great divide: supporting scientists as effective messengers in the public sphere......Page 208
A union of "citizens and scientists for environmental solutions"......Page 211
Thinking globally, reporting regionally......Page 214
The geography of what matters: regional impacts, regional experts......Page 215
Why California? A case study......Page 216
Crossing the great divide: scientists speak out......Page 218
Science in the public interest......Page 222
Notes......Page 224
References......Page 226
Introduction......Page 228
Climate change contrarians: tactics and effectiveness......Page 229
Countering climate change contrarians......Page 232
Notes......Page 237
References......Page 238
Introduction......Page 241
The need for deliberative dialogue......Page 242
Beginning a new conversation......Page 243
The nuts and bolts of dialogue......Page 244
Conclusions......Page 247
References......Page 249
APPENDIX: Questions for Science Communicators/Listeners......Page 250
Introduction......Page 251
A communication failure......Page 252
Motivating precautionary behavior......Page 253
Appropriate information for appropriate action......Page 256
Conclusions......Page 258
References......Page 259
PART TWO Facilitating social change......Page 263
Introduction......Page 265
Inclination......Page 267
Motivation......Page 269
Information processing and behavioral intent......Page 272
External support......Page 273
Communication and behavior change strategies......Page 275
References......Page 277
Introduction......Page 279
Understanding consumption......Page 280
Consumption cultures and narratives......Page 282
Changing behavior......Page 284
Sustainability pioneers......Page 289
Conclusions......Page 291
References......Page 292
17 Educating for "intelligent environmental action" in an age of global warming......Page 294
Two lessons on educating for intelligent action from education research......Page 295
Achieving "intelligent environmental action": pedagogical challenges......Page 303
References......Page 305
Introduction......Page 309
Metaphors and systems analogies......Page 310
Narrative......Page 311
Making the connections across contexts......Page 312
Participant observation......Page 314
Changing habits of thought......Page 315
Preparing lifelong learners......Page 317
Notes......Page 318
References......Page 319
19 Changing the world one household at a time: Portland’s 30-day program to lose 5,000 pounds......Page 320
Slashing the "ignorance tax"......Page 321
Knowing vs. doing......Page 323
Preaching by the choir......Page 325
The "next cutting edge"......Page 326
Beyond the "early adopters"......Page 327
Beyond Portland......Page 328
A call to early adopters......Page 329
Reference......Page 330
The force-field model of change......Page 331
Change resistors and drivers......Page 332
Organizational culture, regulation, public opinion, politics......Page 333
Technology......Page 334
Structural inertia, herd mentality, and contagion......Page 335
Resource constraints......Page 336
Leadership, vision, ethics, and values......Page 337
Crisis and unintended consequences of change......Page 338
Create a sustainability imperative......Page 339
Alter the processes and rules within the system......Page 340
Make sustainability standard operating procedure......Page 341
Textbox 20.1 Steps toward sustainability at Herman Miller Company......Page 342
Textbox 20.2 Catalyst of wider change......Page 343
References......Page 344
21 Change in the marketplace: business leadership and communication......Page 347
Leaders, innovators, and obstructionists: the role of businesses in change......Page 349
Leadership has its rewards: Gaining a market edge......Page 351
Responding to market opportunities......Page 356
Government activities......Page 357
Corporate sustainability......Page 359
Doing the right thing......Page 360
If businesses lead, will government follow?......Page 362
Notes......Page 364
References......Page 365
Introduction......Page 367
The magnitude of missing information......Page 368
The cost of global warming and climate-related events......Page 369
Ancillary costs of fossil fuels......Page 370
The foregone opportunity cost for not participating in the clean technologies market......Page 371
Shareholders communicating to business and the market......Page 372
Communicating from the bottom up - ensuring shareholder value and corporate responsibility......Page 373
Aligning clean air and clean energy policy......Page 374
Aligning economic development policies with climate policies......Page 375
Textbox 22.1 Why it’s good to grow green......Page 376
Establishing clean development funds......Page 377
Bond underwriters......Page 379
Corporate screeners......Page 380
Performance contracts and ESCOs......Page 381
Conclusions......Page 382
Notes......Page 383
References......Page 384
23 Making it easy: establishing energy efficiency and renewable energy as routine best practice......Page 387
Energy in the United States......Page 388
The case for policy intervention......Page 389
Textbox 23.1 Innovations in building and permitting solar homes......Page 390
Policies for energy efficiency......Page 391
Incentives......Page 392
Labels......Page 397
Textbox 23.2 Office equipment - an ENERGY STAR success story......Page 399
Renewable energy and standards......Page 402
Prospects for further gains through energy efficiency and renewable energy......Page 403
"Making it easy" to use energy wisely......Page 404
Nurturing champions and innovators......Page 405
Looking for the "win-win"......Page 406
Know what works and what doesn't......Page 407
References......Page 408
The Cities for Climate Protection campaign......Page 411
Effective communication: making the case to local governments......Page 412
It takes a champion......Page 415
Creative financing of local action......Page 417
Denver "Green Fleets" policy......Page 418
Charging for pollution......Page 419
Alameda County, California, waste surcharge......Page 420
Ann Arbor revolving loan fund......Page 421
Bond measures......Page 422
Conclusions: global change through local action?......Page 423
Notes......Page 425
References......Page 426
25 Ending the piecemeal approach: Santa Monica's comprehensive plan for sustainability......Page 427
The evolution of a plan......Page 429
Mom and apple pie......Page 431
Vision, credibility, and clear responsibilities: ingredients of successful leadership......Page 432
Taking it to the streets......Page 434
Sustainable Works: education and support for all......Page 435
Rewarding persistence, valuing change......Page 437
Greening and energizing the human landscape......Page 438
Future-protecting the community with common-sense solutions......Page 439
Notes......Page 441
References......Page 443
Introduction......Page 444
States as leaders, states as laboratories......Page 445
The New England Governors'/Eastern Canadian Premiers' Climate Change Action Plan......Page 446
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative......Page 449
Sharing information and best practices......Page 451
It takes all kinds: champions behind state climate protection......Page 452
Climate change leadership within state borders......Page 453
States leading by example......Page 454
Capacity building for future state roles......Page 455
Notes......Page 456
References......Page 457
Introduction......Page 459
Motivations for the West Coast Governors' Global Warming Initiative......Page 460
Initial goals and projects......Page 462
Governor's Advisory Group on Global Warming......Page 463
Tradeoffs and cooperation......Page 464
The State of Washington......Page 465
Carbon regulation in Washington's energy facility siting process......Page 466
Planning at the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency......Page 467
Individuals making a difference......Page 468
Contributions from research and development......Page 469
An engaged public......Page 470
Local government as catalyst for climate action......Page 471
Regulatory actions......Page 472
Marketing, outreach, and education......Page 473
Leadership: Walking the talk......Page 474
Lessons from the West Coast......Page 475
References......Page 478
28 Building social movements......Page 479
Mobilization strategies......Page 482
Recognizing and creating urgency......Page 483
Connecting organizers, communicators, and action......Page 484
Mobilizing around policy goals......Page 485
A clear action strategy......Page 486
Notes......Page 488
References......Page 489
Introduction......Page 490
Environmental litigation in the United States......Page 491
Clarify exiting law......Page 492
Change corporate behavior......Page 493
Assign responsibility......Page 494
Inform, encourage, and change public debate......Page 495
Stimulate political advocacy and action......Page 497
Possible unintended consequences......Page 498
Notes......Page 499
References......Page 500
Cases......Page 501
Statutes......Page 502
Climate change as a moral problem......Page 503
Climate change as a challenge to our political system......Page 505
Climate change and character......Page 508
Concluding remarks......Page 509
References......Page 510
PART THREE Creating a climate for change......Page 511
31 An ongoing dialogue on climate change: the Boulder Manifesto......Page 513
The Boulder Manifesto......Page 514
Where shall wisdom be found?......Page 517
References......Page 518
Introduction......Page 519
How close to the tipping point?......Page 520
Conceptualizing the link between communication and social change......Page 522
"Communicating climate change means convincing people of the reality of the problem"......Page 523
"What we really need is a big disaster"......Page 524
"Climate change is a unique social challenge - we've never had to deal with anything like it"......Page 525
" 'Good' values will produce good outcomes for the climate"......Page 526
Elements of effective communication of climate change......Page 527
Elevating and maintaining motivation for change......Page 530
Overcoming barriers......Page 532
Fostering social change......Page 534
The challenge, need, and opportunity for greater multi- and interdisciplinary research on communication and social change......Page 536
Comparative and cross-cultural studies on communication and social change......Page 537
Advancing our understanding of motivations......Page 538
Clearinghouses and active networks for sharing insights, strategies, challenges, and successes......Page 539
Vastly expanding and testing diverse communication efforts......Page 540
Notes......Page 541
References......Page 542
About the authors......Page 545
Index......Page 563