Reference no: EM133263854

How We Communicate About Climate Change

Using the writing below, debate whether there is an appropriate role for science in guiding climate policy. What additional strategies can be implemented to improve the quality of communication about the risks of climate change? Provide examples to support your thinking.

We all have seen how social media can influence a cause. Even in the early days when it was just radio and tv advertising, it was extremely effective. Now that most people have some sort of online presence and can be reached by anyone from anywhere in the world, it is even easier to spread awareness for climate change. The problem I believe will be in the presentation of the information. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and others have a platform built to present media very quickly, relying on its initial impression on the end user before a decision is made to stay and read the post, or to continue scrolling. Climate change is not a "sexy" topic. Acidic oceans don't look much different than healthy ones and a picture of a carbon dioxide heavy atmosphere still just looks air. "The global digital advertising and marketing market was estimated at $350 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach $786.2 billion by 2026." (Marino, 2022). $350 billion is a sizable chunk of change for companies to take part in. Agencies involved with conservation and climate change awareness could reach millions if they packaged their message the right way.

I know that as I get closer to finishing my degree in natural resource conservation I am exposed to more information about the status of our planet. It is troubling when I tell my friends about the things I am learning and it shocks them because this is the first time they have heard. The analogy I use is that our planet is like a bike launching off a ramp. The ramp is everything we have done to cause global warming. We are continuing on an upward trajectory and all the things we are doing to stop global warming is only removing the ramp.