1,721,068 research outputs found
Perceived barriers to sustainable travel behaviour change and the role of information on climate change
No full textIntroduction
No full textThe increasing urgency of the global climate crisis has placed international climate communication at the forefront of scholarly research and practical application. As the issues have risen on the political agenda, it has become of increasing interest to practitioners, non-governmental organizations, governments, and policymakers at national and international levels. Over the last 25 years, there has been a proliferation of scholarly activity and studies that examine the deep-seated challenges of communicating the climate crisis, spanning a range of disciplines. Such challenges include the complexity of climate science itself and the difficulties of communicating this across different cultures and international contexts. This chapter begins by explaining the need for a research handbook specifically on climate “crisis” communication. It provides an overview of the field and a chapter-by-chapter summary of the contents of the Handbook. Finally, it concludes by highlighting important emerging research areas identified throughout the book
Are European climate change awareness campaigns targeting correctly to encourage sustainable travel?
No full textSuccessfully reducing transport’s substantial contribution to European CO2 emissions involves a combination of technological and behavioural measures. Awareness and concern alone do not lead to travel behaviour change and understanding of the reasons for this attitude-behaviour gap is required to ensure CO2 emissions targets are met. The EU’s ‘You Control Climate Change’ awareness campaign has allowed the deliverance of communication tools to EU nations informing the public of simple steps that can be made to reduce their environmental impacts. In spite of this, statistics show that travel behaviour remains unsustainable and, due to the perceived indispensable nature of personal travel, shifts to more sustainable practices remain a challenge even when awareness, concern and feelings of obligation are high.This research involved the use of postal questionnaires and focus groups in the county of Hampshire, UK; the sample was found to be a representative sample of European attitudes on climate change according to EuroBarometer 2009 enabling the extrapolation of findings to the wider population. Results revealed that awareness of the causes of climate change is significantly determined by age with three age groups identified: those aged less than 25 years old and a group aged over 55 were found to be less likely to believe in human-induced climate change than those aged 25 to 54 years old. Four attitudinal traits were examined to identify the extent to which voluntary travel behaviour changes are possible: (i) perceived ability, (ii) perceived usefulness, (iii) willingness, and (iv) knowledge of how to change travel behaviour. Two clusters were identified where respondents were found to vary according to these: the first characterised by strong sustainable behaviour aspirations yet weak implementation, and the second was characterised by individuals projecting a strong feeling of environmental apathy and a lack of sustainable engagement.Perceived barriers to behaviour change were identified and found to be dependent implicitly on perceived personal gains and losses as well as a stated lack of awareness (whether voluntary or not) on the availability and accessibility of options to change current travel behaviour. Habit, misperceptions of modal emissions, perceptions of environmental impacts of travel, cost, convenience and lack of incentives to change were all found to be significant determinants of sustainable attitudes. These results highlight the importance of targeting information to specific audiences and ensuring appropriate measures are described to ensure perceived barriers to change are overcome.In order to alleviate the constrictive nature of these perceived behavioural barriers, targeted and tailored information on climate change was found to be an invaluable tool in delivering a message promoting travel behaviour change. Therefore it is crucial that climate change awareness campaigns include information on the environmental benefits of changing personal travel behaviour whilst simultaneously promoting a sense of environmental pride in order to cater to respondents attitudinal requirements
The importance of local road authorities in climate change awareness programmes
No full textClimate awareness programmes aim to inform the public of simple steps that can be made to reduce the environmental impacts of personal travel. However they fail to acknowledge that travel decisions are made at the individual level and that tailored strategies would be more effective at targeting distinct behavioural patterns. Statistics show that unsustainable travel behaviour and global greenhouse gas emissions are growing, and due to the perceived indispensable nature of personal travel, shifts to more sustainable modes remain a challenge. This paper aims to determine how local road authorities could update existing climate change awareness programmes to significantly reduce unsustainable travel.Results from postal questionnaires and focus groups in Hampshire identified travel behaviour characteristics and attitudinal traits which determined the extent to which voluntary travel behaviour changes are possible. Three groups were identified: Sustainably Aspiring Motorised Travellers (43.9%) were environmentally-focused, felt morally responsible and obligated to change their travel behaviour yet they travel principally by car. Sustainably Aspiring Active Travellers (29.8%) were characterised by sustainable attitudes and marked active travelling (i.e. by non-motorised modes). Conversely Environmentally Apathetic Motorised Travellers (26.3%) expressed little concern about their own personal behaviour and saw no point in changing it; this was highlighted by their heavy motorised travelling patterns. These results highlight the existence of three different types of individuals based on a combination of attitudinal and behavioural traits; an important consideration not currently identified in the implementation of climate change awareness programmes.These groups are related to different perceptions of the barriers to behaviour change which are dependent implicitly on perceived personal and social gains and losses. In order to overcome these perceived behavioural barriers and encourage the use of sustainable travel modes within cities therefore, climate change awareness programmes promoting travel behaviour change will likely only be successful when they can be targeted and tailored to specific groupings and crucially conveyed within the direct context that individual travellers experience. Climate change awareness programmes can then be an extremely useful tool to increase sustainable travel behaviour across cities and this paper demonstrates how local road authorities play an important role as part of such programmes.<br/
Public understanding of climate change and the gaps between knowledge, attitudes and travel behavior
No full textClimate change is the most serious threat facing mankind in the 21st century; it has been linked to human activities and the impacts of global climate change will persevere for years to come. The transport sector is responsible for a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change and it is the only sector with rising emissions. Public awareness of the impacts of transport on climate change appears to be high, and a high degree of concern on environmental issues is expressed. However this is not reflected in corresponding lifestyle choices implying the existence of an attitude-behavior gap.A series of postal questionnaires on climatic awareness and attitudes were distributed to a random population in an area of the UK. A representative sample of the UK population was obtained in terms of demographic and socio-economic characteristics, transport use, availability of public/private transport options, and views on climate change and travel behavior.This paper shows that the role of information on climate change needs to change. Knowledge and concern for climate change is evident as well as an acceptance of the role individuals have in this. Providing more tailored information therefore, has significant potential in providing the type of information required and encouraging sustainable travel behavior. Three knowledge groups were identified as well as three age categories which can be significant in terms of who to direct information at as well as what information to provide. Attempts to increase public awareness of climatic issues now need to be re-focused on encouraging people to act voluntarily on their attitudes, values and beliefs. Behavioral change is highly supportedand preferred over fiscal measures, but requires more information than is currently available
Where next for carbon literacy? Tackling climate misinformation and addressing climate (in)justice
No full textTackling the climate crisis requires widespread awareness of the urgency and the scale of the climate challenge as well as greater understanding of climate mitigation actions and how everyday activities contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon literacy research and practice aims to address these information needs and related skills deficits through communication campaigns to motivate and mobilise carbon reduction activities by individuals, communities, and organisations. However, carbon literacy is also a dynamic concept shaped by policies and technologies. As a result, there is a need for ongoing development in this evolving domain of climate communications.
This chapter reviews developments in carbon literacy campaigns focusing on the UK. This reveals a shift from addressing knowledge and skills deficits to the more recent focus on specific mitigation actions, as well as new communications approaches drawing on storytelling and experiential engagement. It then highlights two contemporary challenges for climate action communication: the proliferation of climate misinformation, as well as growing concerns about the fairness of decarbonisation processes and the need for a “just transition.” It argues that in the context of a climate crisis, carbon literacy research and practice must take these developments in public discourse into account and engage with climate misinformation and climate justice studies.peer-reviewe
Promoting veganism:The cultural role of celebrities and influencers in the reframing of meat and dairy as a climate issue
No full textSince the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (2006) identified the livestock sector’s contribution to global climate emissions as 18%, the production and consumption of meat and dairy has been increasingly framed as a climate issue. Yet, whilst environmental NGOs were hesitant to campaign, celebrities and social media influencers have advocated for the climate, animal and health benefits of veganism, helping to mainstream it over the last 5-10 years. Placing critical attention on celebrities’ and social media influencers’ promotion of veganism and meat and dairy reduction practices, this chapter explores the socio-cultural conditions supporting celebrities’ emergence as cultural communicators of veganism and climate change; examines how meat and dairy reduction/elimination is discursively communicated, and veganism as an ethical identity is reframed in this process; and considers the socio-political implications of the celebritisation and mainstreaming of veganism or ‘plant-based’ diets for climate action. In doing so, the chapter introduces feminist and antiracist definitions of veganism; examines early celebrity vegan work on climate advocacy; discusses theories of celebrification, promotional culture and commodification; and explores recent research on celebrity veganism and vegan influencers. Offering directions for future research, it argues for an inclusive vegan future that addresses systemic inequalities underpinning the climate crisis
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