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 in October 2019 include the fact that climate change...
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...
Climate change is a notoriously ‘distant’ risk for most people – it feels ‘not here’ and it feels ‘not now’. Anyone who has had any experience trying to engage the public on climate change will likely recognise the challenge of overcoming the so-called ‘psychological distance’ of the issue, and bringing climate change ‘closer to home’. There is a lot of...
There is a long history of academic interest in how individuals and communities in the UK have responded to floods and other extreme weather events. And there have been some practical responses to the challenges communities in flood-affected areas face (from the emergency plans of regional councils, to the resources of organisations like the Environment Agency). But in a changing...
The Preparation Frame: A Guide to Building Understanding of Climate Impacts and Engagement in Solutions explores how to shift the climate conversation to a focus on preparing for and reducing the threat of climate disruption. The preparation frame is built around the fundamental challenges, choices, and opportunities we face in confronting climate disruption and puts people, prosperity, and security at...
If you have ever struggled with the communication of uncertainty, then this handbook is for you. It distills the most important research findings and expert advice into a few pages of practical, easy- to-apply techniques providing scientists, policy-makers and campaigners with the tools they need to communicate more effectively around climate change…. This handbook offers some strategies for closing the...
