Communicating Climate Change
Policymakers, businesses, the media, and the public are increasingly interested in this complex issue. This generates a multitude of information and opinions about climate change, and presents significant challenges to accurately and effectively communicate the issue.
The information shared on this page aims to offer insights into these communications challenges and highlight credible, relevant sources of related information. This is not a comprehensive list of climate change communications materials. Rather, it is an evolving collection of useful resources to help advance an understanding of the communications challenges posed by the climate issue.
The findings and opinions expressed in these materials do not necessarily reflect views of the Pew Center. We do, however, find them all to offer interesting perspectives.
Recommended Articles + Papers
Growing Role for New Media Foreseen as Climate Science/Public Opinion Diverge
Michael J. Coren
Yale Forum on Climate Change and the Media
April 6, 2009
A Reporter's Field Notes on The Coverage of Climate Change
Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker
Yale Environment 360
March 11, 2009
Communicating Climate Change: Why Frames Matter for Public Engagement
Matthew C. Nisbet, American University
Environment Magazine
March-April 2009
A Two-Step Flow of Influence?: Opinion-Leader Campaigns on Climate Change
Matthew C. Nisbet, American University
John E. Kotcher, National Academies
Science Communication, Sage Publications
March 2009
How Much Would You Pay to Save the Planet? The American Press and the Economics of Climate Change
Eric Pooley, Kalb Fellow
Joan Shorenstein Center
January 2009
The Real Swindle
Max Boycoff, James Martin 21st Century Research Fellow at the Environmental Change Institute
Nature
February 21, 2008
Moving Beyond Gore's Message: A Look Back (And Ahead) at Climate Change Communications
Matthew C. Nisbet, American University
January 9, 2008
Global Warming's Six Americas
Anthony Leiserowitz, PhD (Yale Project on Climate Change)
Edward Maibach, MPH, PhD and Connie Roser-Renouf, PhD (George Mason University Center for
Climate Change Communication)
Recommended Resources
Climate Change Guide
Met Office, Hadley Center
Creating a Climate for Change
NCAR
Center for Climate Change Communication (C4)
George Mason University
Yale Forum on Climate Change and the Media
Studies and Polls
The Energy Learning Curve: Coming from Different Starting Points, the Public Sees Similar Solutions
A report from Public Agenda by Scott Bittle, Jonathan Rochkind and Amber Ott
April 3, 2009
Americans Favor Carbon Cap
The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press
March 25, 2009
Generation Gap in Understanding Climate Change
CSR Europe
March 13, 2009
Increased Number Think Global Warming "Exaggerated"
Gallup
March 11, 2009
Climate Change and American Public Opinion: The National and State Perspective
Miller Center of Public Affairs, UVA
December 10, 2008
Social Media
Communicating Climate Change podcast
Joe Cone, producer
Nature Reports Climate Change podcast
Pew Resources