Risk communication, public engagement, and climate change: a role for emotions

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Climate Change Communication
• Philosophy of Emotions

Background:

• Climate change is a significant societal challenge, largely driven by human behavior.
• Despite consensus, individuals exhibit a lack of urgency, perceiving climate change as distant and future-oriented.
• Traditional approaches often exclude emotions from climate change discourse, viewing them as irrational.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of emotions in promoting climate-friendly lifestyles.
• To develop a theoretical framework integrating ethics of risk and philosophy of emotions for climate communication.
• To challenge the exclusion of emotions from decision-making regarding climate change risks.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical framework development.
• Integration of insights from risk ethics and emotion philosophy.
• Analysis of the role of emotions in risk perception and moral decision-making.

Main Results:

• Emotions are significant determinants of risk perception.
• A technocratic approach to risk overlooks the normative-ethical dimensions of acceptable risk.
• Emotions are essential for practical, moral decision-making and provide motivation.

Conclusions:

• Emotions are vital for comprehending the moral impact of climate change risks.
• Emotions can serve as a critical motivator for behavioral change.
• Emotions may represent the missing link in effective climate change communication and action.