Raising awareness on water and climate related risks - an overview

Climate change is not an easy subject from the perspective of communications studies: it is widely regarded as a most important issue, but its global scope and the lack of consensus on its consequences can make it hard to encompass. This article aims to structure the field and set out the domains of communicative action that are involved, as well identify the actors involved and their role in the overall debate. The different modalities of communication and the dynamics in the use of media in the present time are considered, before discussion of some basic issues with regard to communication, such as the meaning of (scientific) information versus more emotional cues, the opportunities for action that can be offered to citizens/consumers, and the issue of trust in responsible agencies.