Re-messaging Climate Change

Photo Courtesy of NASA

By: Jamie Beckett, BJ Boyles, Caitlin Broman, Matt Lipke,

Chris McCarthy, Justin Sackel, Shannon Scarbrough, and

Megan Sullivan

Purpose Address the disconnect between consensus of the scientific community and public understanding

So What?For people to be involved they need to relate and comprehend to the issues at hand

We depend on the health of the environment and the health of the environment depends on the PEOPLE

Our GoalProvide a medium for the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife that can effectively communicate conservation issues in hopes for increased public support and funding. This project may also be used as a template for other organizations.

Objectives1. Research and utilize literature on effective science communication techniques.2. Develop a short film on Hurricane Irene, its impacts, and mitigation techniques.3. Develop a conservation plan on flood resiliency for Vermont Department of Fish and wildlife. 4. Develop a survey designed to assess the general public's outlook on certain conservation issues.

Our Plan

1.Communication:Stressor: Climate Science Deniers Receptor: Local and Global PopulationAssessment Endpoint: Potential changed outlook on issue presented to audience member

2. Conservation:Stressor: Flood eventsReceptor: People living within the floodplain and the surrounding ecosystems Assessment Endpoint: Improved infrastructure and flood prevention techniques

Our Methods

● Research

● Engaging the public

● Conducting interviews to produce a short film

Source:climatechangecommunication.org

Source: theconsensusproject.com

Source: Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Source: Environmental and Energy Study Institute

The 6 Americas

Source: Yale/George Mason University

Source: Yale/Mason

source: Gallup

Changing Traditional Methods

Old: Deficit Model

New: Engagement

http://blogs.nature.com/soapboxscience/files/2013/02/scicomm1.jpg

Why Does it Matter?

● Public understanding of climate science = educated decisions about future of environment

● Our project: Increase awareness and gain support for efforts to increase flood resiliency

What affects our beliefs?News source: “Echo-chamber Effect” ● People are exposed to

content consistent with their worldviews and shielded from dissenting views

● Increases polarization resulting in difficulties for policy makers

● Conservative news sources: Fox News, Rush Limbaugh

● Non-conservative sources: CNN, MSNBC, NPR

Feldman, L. et al., 2014

What affects our beliefs?

Politics

Gallup

What affects our beliefs?

Economy

Gallup

“For each 3.1°F that local temperatures in the past week have risen above normal, Americans become 1% more likely to agree that there is ‘solid evidence’ that the Earth is getting warmer.”

Egan & Megan Mullin 2012

The Theory of Motivated Reasoning:

Illustration: Jonathon Rosen

Feinberg and Willer 2010

Offer Solutions

Instill Hope

Climate Change Elevator Speech

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGmk-4bpIVs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpEGBgHxNTQ

Interview with Skeptic Marc Moron and Professor Watson on BBC

Myth Debunking 101● Tricky because debunking may further reinforce myth

o take care to avoid backfire effects Familiarity Backfire Effect Overkill Backfire Effect Worldview Backfire Effect

● It’s not what people think but how they thinko people aren’t computers - complex cognitive processes,

emotions● To effectively debunk a myth, you need to fill the gap with an

alternative explanation

Source: Myth Debunking Handbook

Familiarity Backfire Effect Overkill Backfire Effect Worldview Backfire Effect

Debunking reinforces myth

Not understanding leads to not accepting as true

Simple myth more attractive than complex truth

Cognitive processes associated with can lead to unconscious information bias

(Confirmation bias)

People shown flyer debunking myths about vaccines were asked to take a test to separate fact from myth - scored worse than if never presented with myth(Skurnik, I., Yoon, C., Park, D., Schwartz, N. 2005)

Information that is easier to process is more likely to be accepted as true

(Schwartz et al. 2007)

People were presented facts they gravitate towards info they already agree with

(Taber & Lodge 2006)

Approach: focus on the facts, avoid bringing up the myth

Approach: stick to the facts, keep it simple

Approach: self-affirmation,re-framing

Source: Physics Today

Avoid scientific jargon and words with double meaning

Connecting with people’s values

What pulls on your audience's heart strings?● Saving money?● Stewardship?● Skiing?● Children’s future?● Health?● What do Vermonters care about?

Communicating with the Public● Avoid science jargon.● Know your audience, relate to their

lives.● Relatability ($, things they love)● Appeal to their emotions and their

worldview.● Use easy to understand and

aesthetically pleasing visuals.● Foster hope! Be positive!

[Science-Jargon/ Relevance] x Passion = Understanding

Visual Communication - Appeals to the

senses - example: video, colored graphs,

pictures

Allows:- Immediacy- Simplicity- Flexibility

Film - A Powerful Tool

● Collaboration between different people● Builds networking for you/your ideas● Tracking and demographics available

through online sites● Easy to get feedback● Super fun!

BAMIE WHAM TIME!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dv8lUyo2l4

Our Short Film

● Short film about Irene, her aftermath, and flood resiliency

● Interviewed several different people● Using actual footage from storm and

recovery efforts● Hopefully can be a template for VT Fish

and Wildlife

Personal example - Elixir

● Science fiction but grounded in reality● Theme of water availability and

privatization issues● Uses concepts, ideas, and case studies

we have talked about in our classes● Brings certain issues to light● Combine forces with others (Oxfam

and WASH)

Elixir Sizzler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHYyH27H9ZU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf4J5JKrcwk (Trailer #1)

Elixir

Climate Change & Flood Resilience

● Conservation focus: flood resilience

● More intense storm events and higher precipitation levels = more and more flooding, regardless of whether or not climate change is to blame

Source: AP Photo, The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz

The Issue:

The state and EPA plans often ignore conservation actions, even though they very clearly lead to improved flood resilience. ● The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife

does not receive support for effective and beneficial projects

Conservation Plan

Flood Resilience● Legislation for the protection of

wetland and floodplain habitatWetland and floodplain protection!!! Why?

They are a main defense for upland as they catch rising waters and slow them down.

Provide waterfowl habitat.

Could even consider artificial wetlands near cities and towns.

Dredging and Stream Channelization

Flood Resilience

River Corridors● Buy/ protect flood prone areas● Riparian Buffers and streambank stabilization to

prevent erosion and stream incision● Larger fish culverts cause less channelization

and allow higher peak flow before flooding occurs

● Discourage new development o New development outside vulnerable areas

A message from Julia Roberts...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmVLcj-XKnM

Conclusion

● Riparian buffers● Floodplain and wetland

protection● Methods for

communicating climate science

Conclusion

● Ultimately, through various mediums, we have worked to paint a vivid image of the impact that climate change can have on a very local scale.

● The effects of climate change are everywhere, we must get individuals to understand the science in order for them to see the global impact it has.

Special thanks to Tom Rogers from VT Fish and Wildlife for his leadership and contributions to this project.

Acknowledgments

Breck!Carol AdairInterviewees; Stephanie Castle, Liz Holtz, Ryan McNally, Jamie Beckett

BibliographyCook, J., Lewandowsky, S. (2011), The Debunking Handbook. St. Lucia, Australia: University of Queensland. November 5. ISBN 978-0-646-56812-6. [http://sks.to/debunk]Feldman, L., Myers, T. A., Hmielowski, D., Leiserowitz, A. 2014. The mutual reinforcement of media selectivity and effects: Testing the reinforcing spirals framework in the context of global warming. Journal of Communication 64:590-611.Schwarz, N., Sanna, L., Skurnik, I., & Yoon, C. (2007). Metacognitive experiences and the intricacies of setting people straight:Implications for debiasing and public information campaigns. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 39, 127-161.Skurnik, I., Yoon, C., Park, D., & Schwarz, N. (2005). How warnings about false claims become recommendations. Journal of Consumer Research, 31, 713-724.Taber, C. S., & Lodge, M. (2006). Motivated skepticism in the evaluation of political beliefs. American Journal of Political Science, 50, 755–69.