Program on the Environment

Climate change is the most pressing issue facing our cities, country, and planet. Effective communication about climate change and its solutions is crucial for the well-being of our communities, both large and small. However, effective communication about such a nuanced and controversial topic is not without complications. The prevalence of misinformation, disinformation, media skepticism, and greenwashing are all barriers that stand in the way of an educated and committed society that is prepared to tackle the issue of climate change. My project aims to provide environmental communicators with both a comprehensive understanding of climate misinformation, including where it comes from and how it is spread, as well as a set of simple solutions for combating it. To achieve this, I used three research methods: (1) an internship with Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, where I gained practical experience moderating a podcast series on emerging environmental issues in the Puget Sound; (2) a literature review of current research on climate misinformation and environmental communication; and (3) interviews with experienced environmental communicators and journalists to gather first-hand perspectives. Resulting from this research was the following for solutions that I found to be most prevalent and effective: Prebunking, Direct Response, Ethical Journalism, and Teaching Effective Science Communication. The significance of this research will be creating a framework for scientists, journalists, and environmental communicators in all sectors to utilize as needed as they navigate an information landscape increasingly defined by misinformation.