Not Just an Individual Problem: Shifting Climate Communications to Address a Collective Responsibility and Motivate True Climate Action
Date
2024
Authors
Pressler, Maya
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
For four decades, scientific consensus on the existence and threat of anthropogenic climate change has been ubiquitous. As climate scientists have done the research and provided the facts, they and the news media have made consistent attempts to communicate this threat and have regularly reported about climate disasters. Despite these continued warnings and frightening predictions, however, little actual progress has been made to mitigate the damage. In response to inaction among world leaders in addressing the climate crisis, citizens and climate activist groups have organized in an attempt to spread public awareness and motivate cooperation. But the nuances between individual action and collective action require further study and are the central topic of this thesis.
This research seeks to identify what can be changed to address this inaction. I aimed to discover what might be lacking in messaging and what shifts could motivate large-scale change. Through surveys and interviews, I confirm that people have been getting the message that significant changes are necessary. Participant discourse suggests, however, that a gap still exists between what people know needs to be done and what actions they are actually taking.
Description
Keywords
Climate Change, Climate Communications, Environmental Communications, Communications, Climate Crisis