The Psychology of Effective Climate Change Communication: A Discourse Analysis

Abstract

The goal of this study is to understand the importance of the psychology of public engagement in climate change communication. There is currently a disconnect between the certainty of the science of climate change and the public perception of the urgency to act. This problem is can be attributed to the lack of effective climate change communication. This thesis will outline the psychological barriers for public engagement and determine strategies for effective climate change communication. Then, the climate change communication of three case studies (350.Org, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Sierra Club) will be analyzed for effective communication. Through analyzing Twitter communication, the communication strategies will examine how the issue is discussed in the Canadian context.