These are research summaries that provide background on specific environmental communication situations and challenges. The most recent reports are at the top.
Communicating climate change in Egypt, Tunisia and Mauritania 2021 This report provides local climate advocates across civil society as well as government, media and business with advice on how to effectively engage their audiences with climate change. This work is the result of a series of values-based focus groups (known as narrative workshops, a peer-reviewed research model we’ve developed over...
Reducing Plastic Pollution: Campaigns That Work 2021 We have examined over 65 scientific papers, journalistic articles and surveys to learn what works in shifting individual behaviour. And we analysed 50 campaigns that try to address sustainable plastic use in some way, to see which of those techniques and concepts they are using, whether they have been effective, and why. These...
Engaging the public on climate risks and adaptation 2020 As the UK continues to deal with record-breaking flooding and prepares to host the UN climate summit in November, a survey conducted in collaboration with Cardiff University reveals the biggest shift yet in public perceptions of climate risks, resilience and adaptation. Topline findings of the survey of over 1400 nationally-representative adults...
Broadening engagement with just transition: Opportunities and challenges 2019 How do we talk about the transition to a low-carbon economy without it sounding like a threat to the livelihoods – and sense of identity – of all those who work in energy-intensive industries and the communities they support? The concept of a ‘just transition’ – where workers and communities affected by the...
Are the public ready for net zero? Recommendations for building a positive public discourse 2019 There is currently a lack of research into communicating the concept of net zero and why it is needed, but existing insights on climate change communication suggest the phrase net zero is a technical one that will not resonate well with the public. The purpose...
Mainstreaming low-carbon lifestyles 2019 When it comes to mainstreaming low-carbon lifestyles, why do we need to move from ‘nudge’ to ‘think’? How do we make sure we’re focusing on the behaviours and audiences that really matter? When does one sustainable behaviour lead to another? What role do positive social norms and authentic storytelling play? These are some of the questions...
Communicating Climate Change and Energy with Different Audiences in Alberta 2019 In this report we explore additional language that speaks to the values and identities of different audiences within Alberta. The report includes narratives tailored to each audience – what communicators call “sub-narratives”. The sub-narratives are intended to sit within the larger meta- narrative from Report I, giving the latter...
Guide to Communicating Carbon Pricing 2018 Effective communications are integral to designing and implementing a carbon price. They provide the means for building acceptance internally across government and externally with key stakeholders and the wider public. This shared understanding and acceptance is essential for building a robust policy that can be sustained through electoral and economic cycles. This Guide provides...
Climate communication in practice: how are we engaging the UK public on climate change? 2018 There is a growing appreciation of the need to engage the public around climate change, but how much do researchers and practitioners agree on how to go about this? How do they approach communicating climate change, and what are their motives for doing so? The...
Public Engagement for a 1.5C World – Shifting Gear and Scaling up 2018 While governments and advocates have largely focused on the technological, economic and political changes needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, far less attention has been paid to engaging the public in the global response to climate change. What does it mean to live in a changing climate?...