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Changing the world with words? Euphemisms in climate change issues

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  • Grolleau, Gilles
  • Mzoughi, Naoufel
  • Peterson, Deborah
  • Tendero, Marjorie

Abstract

Words matter when talking about climate change. They influence thinking and ultimately behaviors. We contend that certain kinds of words frequently used in climate change communication, namely euphemisms, can undermine the objectives of raising climate change awareness and changing behaviors to reduce emissions. We characterize euphemisms related to climate change issues and show how they are often manipulated to serve vested interests opposing climate change action. In particular, we highlight euphemistic names of astroturfing organizations that aim to persuade consumers or citizens. We conclude by suggesting some practical ways to prevent or avoid detrimental consequences associated with euphemisms and draw several policy implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Grolleau, Gilles & Mzoughi, Naoufel & Peterson, Deborah & Tendero, Marjorie, 2022. "Changing the world with words? Euphemisms in climate change issues," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:193:y:2022:i:c:s0921800921003669
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107307
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    1. Farrow, Katherine & Grolleau, Gilles & Mzoughi, Naoufel, 2021. "‘Let's call a spade a spade, not a gardening tool’: How euphemisms shape moral judgement in corporate social responsibility domains," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 254-267.
    2. Charles Cho & Martin Martens & Hakkyun Kim & Michelle Rodrigue, 2011. "Astroturfing Global Warming: It Isn’t Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(4), pages 571-587, December.
    3. Nicolás Ajzenman & Tiago Cavalcanti & Daniel Da Mata, 2023. "More than Words: Leaders' Speech and Risky Behavior during a Pandemic," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 15(3), pages 351-371, August.
    4. Terri L. Rittenburg & George Albert Gladney & Teresa Stephenson, 2016. "The Effects of Euphemism Usage in Business Contexts," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 137(2), pages 315-320, August.
    5. Katherine Farrow & Gilles Grolleau & Naoufel Mzoughi, 2018. "What in the Word! The Scope for the Effect of Word Choice on Economic Behavior," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 71(4), pages 557-580, November.
    6. Clot, Sophie & Grolleau, Gilles & Méral, Philippe, 2017. "Payment Vs. Compensation For Ecosystem Services: Do Words Have A Voice In The Design of Environmental Conservation Programs?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 299-303.
    7. Li-San Hung & Mucahid Mustafa Bayrak, 2020. "Comparing the effects of climate change labelling on reactions of the Taiwanese public," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-6, December.
    8. Nicolás Ajzenman & Tiago Cavalcanti & Daniel Da Mata, 2020. "More than Words: Leaders' Speech and Risky Behavior During a Pandemic," Department of Economics Working Papers wp_gob_2020_03, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella.
    9. Cavalcanti, Tiago & Ajzenman, Nicolas & da Mata, Daniel, 2020. "More than Words: Leaders’ Speech and Risky Behavior During a Pandemic," CEPR Discussion Papers 14707, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    10. Wen Shi & Haohuan Fu & Peinan Wang & Changfeng Chen & Jie Xiong, 2020. "#Climatechange vs. #Globalwarming: Characterizing Two Competing Climate Discourses on Twitter with Semantic Network and Temporal Analyses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-22, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chao Ma & Mazhar Farid Chishti & Muhammad Kashif Durrani & Rizwana Bashir & Sofia Safdar & Rana Tanveer Hussain, 2023. "The Corporate Social Responsibility and Its Impact on Financial Performance: A Case of Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Madaleno, Mara & Dogan, Eyup & Taskin, Dilvin, 2022. "A step forward on sustainability: The nexus of environmental responsibility, green technology, clean energy and green finance," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    3. Asselineau, Alexandre & Grolleau, Gilles & Mzoughi, Naoufel, 2024. "Quiet environments and the intentional practice of silence: Toward a new perspective in the analysis of silence in organizations," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(3), pages 326-340, September.
    4. Dejan Glavas & Gilles Grolleau & Naoufel Mzoughi, 2023. "Greening the greenwashers – How to push greenwashers towards more sustainable trajectories," Post-Print hal-03908838, HAL.

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