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Framing climate change and spatial planning: how risk communication can be improved
1Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. joop.de.boer@ivm.falw.vu.nl
Summary
Public understanding of climate change is influenced by recent weather events, particularly floods. In the Netherlands, citizens often link climate change to rain and river issues, impacting risk communication strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental psychology
- Climate change communication
- Risk perception
Background:
- Effective communication of complex risks and benefits is crucial.
- Understanding public sense-making regarding climate change is essential for policy and education.
- Frames significantly influence how individuals perceive and react to climate-related issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the frames used by citizens in Western European countries, specifically the Netherlands, concerning climate change.
- To analyze the relationship between beliefs about climate change, energy technology, and environmental concerns.
- To identify how public opinion shapes the understanding of climate change impacts.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of three multi-national public opinion surveys.
- Examination of citizen beliefs about climate change, energy technology, and environmental issues (e.g., natural disasters).
- Comparative analysis of framing in Western Europe and the Netherlands.
Main Results:
- Many citizens possess vague notions about the energy situation, lacking a clear frame for climate issues.
- Recent severe floods in Central Europe have significantly impacted public perception, linking climate change to rain and river-based problems.
- Climate change is frequently framed through associations with rainfall and riverine concerns.
Conclusions:
- Public understanding of climate change is heavily influenced by salient environmental events like floods.
- The framing of climate change as primarily a rain- and river-related issue has critical implications for risk communication, especially in vulnerable regions like the Netherlands.
- Risk communication strategies must account for these prevalent frames while also addressing the broader spectrum of climate change consequences.
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