Conspiracy theories attempt to explain events as the secretive plots of powerful people. While conspiracy theories are not typically supported by evidence, this doesn’t stop them from blossoming. Conspiracy theories damage society in a number of ways. To help minimise these harmful effects, The Conspiracy Theory Handbook explains why conspiracy theories are so popular, how to identify the traits of conspiratorial...
This report summarises the topline findings of the European Perception of Climate Change Project (EPCC), a study that gives insights into public perceptions of climate change across four major European countries – France, Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom. Research teams from each country and an International Stakeholder Advisory Panel collaboratively designed a theoretically grounded cross-national survey, providing directly comparable...
The European Perceptions of Climate Change project (EPCC) provides insights into public attitudes towards climate change and energy transitions across France, Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom. In an initial report, the project detailed the socio-political context relevant to understanding perceptions of climate change in each of these nations. A second report summarises the key findings from an international representative...
As several decades of awareness-raising and initiatives to engage the public have shown, climate change doesn’t communicate itself. A burgeoning evidence base on the social science of climate change communication now provides many explanations for why engaging on climate change can be challenging. Climate science is filled with uncertainties, a notorious stumbling block for communicating with non-scientists. For some, the...
To accompany this year’s UK Climate Coalition Show the Love campaign, which we helped shape, we’ve created a new practical guide, “Public engagement with climate change post-Brexit: a centre-right perspective”, in collaboration with the Climate Coalition. Many climate campaigners and communicators consistently state that they struggle to have conversations with people of centre-right values – in response, our new guide...
Last year’s entry into force of Paris Climate Agreement was a crucial step forward in the efforts to transform communities around the globe to low-carbon, climate-resilient societies. The year 2016 also saw the conclusion of HABITATIII and the adoption of the New Urban Agenda, which defines comprehensive guidance on integrated sustainable urban and territorial development. Meanwhile, the biodiversity agenda advanced...
This initial briefing paper summarises research and expertise on public communication of drought risks in a changing climate. We explore the difficulties involved in building understanding and engagement with the sometimes complex issues surrounding climate change and drought in the UK. The report outlines how communicators can best respond to these challenges. These lessons are intended to support delivery of...
With continuing political polarisation around climate change and energy issues, there is an urgent need to reflect the views of centre-right citizens accurately and build communications around their values. There is no inherent reason why climate change and the centre-right should be incompatible. However, there has long been a vacuum where a coherent and compelling conservative narrative on climate change...
If the prospect of changing someone’s mind sounds daunting (or just plain impossible), don’t worry – we can help. Our new messaging guide, 15 Steps to Create Effective Climate Communications, offers a simple and comprehensive approach to creating messages that resonate. Whether you’re making a case for starting a climate task force at your organization, asking your city council to...
Addressing climate change at the European level requires that the majority of society accept the need to act. European level climate actions have been largely supported by a cross-political consensus, but this unity of purpose is weakening with the growing reluctance of the centre-right in some countries to take action. The political centre-right occupies the moderate centre of politics, though...
