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Communicating Climate Change Risk: A Content Analysis of IPCC’s Summary for Policymakers

Author

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  • P. Marijn Poortvliet

    (Strategic Communication Group, Wageningen University, 6700 EW Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Meredith T. Niles

    (Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences & Food Systems Program, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA)

  • Jeroen A. Veraart

    (Wageningen Environmental Research, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Saskia E. Werners

    (Wageningen Environmental Research, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
    Water Systems and Global Change Group, Wageningen University, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Fiona C. Korporaal

    (Strategic Communication Group, Wageningen University, 6700 EW Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Bob C. Mulder

    (Strategic Communication Group, Wageningen University, 6700 EW Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of climate change risk communication in terms of its theoretical potential to stimulate recipients’ awareness and behavioral change. We selected the summary for policy makers (SPM) of the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in order to conduct a content analysis; the extended parallel process model and construal level theory served as conceptual lenses to perform the analysis. Specifically, we evaluated to what extent the SPM included informational elements of threat, efficacy and psychological distance related to climate change. The results showed that threat information was prominently present, but efficacy information was less frequently included, and when it was, more often in the latter parts of the SPM. With respect to construal level it was found that in the IPCC report concrete representations were used only sparingly. Theoretical relevance and implications for climate change risk communication with key audiences are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • P. Marijn Poortvliet & Meredith T. Niles & Jeroen A. Veraart & Saskia E. Werners & Fiona C. Korporaal & Bob C. Mulder, 2020. "Communicating Climate Change Risk: A Content Analysis of IPCC’s Summary for Policymakers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:12:p:4861-:d:371533
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    References listed on IDEAS

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