Communication for sustainable policy: connecting science, society and government

Both the cause of environmental problems and possibilities for addressing them depend on human perceptions, attitudes and behaviour, which are linked to values, preferences and beliefs about the world. Communication is key to analysing the relation between all of these aspects. This thematic issue reports on research which provides insights into how we can communicate environmental issues effectively.

Communication plays a central role in shaping our understanding of the natural world and the role of humans therein. Such understandings, in turn, influence the way we act and our support for, or opposition to, specific policies.

Communication is also the terrain where diverse points of view are negotiated. Issues of power and access to different arenas are important; some individuals or organisations have a voice, while others are constrained.

There has been a shift in political discourse towards increased public participation and integrating non-scientific forms of knowledge in policy-making. However, this actually takes place to different degrees throughout Europe. To learn about research in this area, see the article: ‘Towards greater public participation in EU biodiversity policy’.

Communicating specialist knowledge on complex environmental problems, such as climate change, to policy-makers poses diverse challenges. It is important to devise ways to make scientific uncertainty and its implications for policy-making meaningful to all. See: ‘Communicating uncertainty at the science-policy interface’.

Public understanding of risk depends on social and cultural factors, and not just on technical information. As discussed in ‘Public perceptions of new technologies: the case of CO2 storage’, public acceptance of technological innovations depends on trust in scientists and policy-makers, as well as intuitive, emotional responses.

Will climate change affect us in the near future? Time-scales significantly influence citizens’ evaluations of environmental problems, as pointed out in a study on the use of different climate change scenarios for behavioural change. See: ‘Effective scenarios for communicating climate change’.

While we need continuous public engagement to tackle climate change, an emphasis on fear can lead to paralysis. Icons or images that suggest practical ways of acting on the problem can be more empowering and effective. See: ‘Fear is not the answer to communicating climate change’.

The media is a central arena for amplifying environmental issues and can influence the course of policy. A study on media representations of the relation between climate change and international development illustrates problems associated with prevalent dramatic, alarmist messages. See: ‘Media coverage of climate change and international development’.

This special issue demonstrates that research into environmental communication can help us to better understand and improve connections between the scientific, social and political spheres.

Prof Anabela Carvalho
University of Minho, Portugal

IN THIS ISSUE

Towards greater public participation in EU biodiversity policy
The public are becoming increasingly involved with decision-making processes related to EU biodiversity policy. However, according to a recent study, further improvements could be made to close the gap between desired participation described in biodiversity policy and what is achieved in practice.(more…)
Communicating uncertainty at the science-policy interface
Better communication of uncertainty helps decision-makers integrate science into environmental policy, according to a recent study.(more…)
Public perceptions of new technologies: the case of CO2 storage
A Dutch study reveals that public perceptions of carbon storage are more likely to be influenced by intuitive trust than an analysis of costs and benefits if a storage plant is planned near an individual’s home.(more…)
Effective scenarios for communicating climate change
Researchers have explored what kind of information is effective in influencing the public’s perceptions of climate change. They found that individuals may be more likely to relate to climate change if its impacts are presented for the near future, rather than for the longer term.(more…)
Fear is not the answer to communicating climate change
According to recent research, ‘frightening’ images of climate change may initially attract public attention, but they are also likely to disempower individuals, distancing them from the issue. The research suggests communication strategies should use more ‘enabling’ images that are relevant to the target audience in combination with these fearful images. (more…)
Media coverage of climate change and international development
Newspapers in the UK reflect a sense of climate change as an impending catastrophe for the developing world, which requires the help of the West. This view partly reinforces the concept of the poor as victims and could influence the public’s response to climate change policies. (more…)

News from LIFE: Consumer guide helps reduce production of waste at a local level
An EU-funded LIFE project, IDEAL79, developed a waste reduction programme, which reduced the production of residual waste in the Deux Sèvres region of France by nearly 10 per cent in three years. Awareness of the need to reduce waste was raised through an extensive information campaign and a training programme targeted at policymakers, associations, schools and colleges, businesses and the local population. (more…)