Evaluating effective public engagement: local stories from a global network of IPCC scientists

• DOI: 10.1007/s10584-021-03230-w
• Publication Date: 2021-10-22T12:14:50Z
• Authors: Rosalind Pidcock; Kate Heath; Lydia Messling; Susie Wang; Anna Pirani; Sarah Connors; Adam Corner; Christopher Shaw; Melissa Gomis
• Keywords: 0508 media and communications; IPCC; 13. Climate action; 11. Sustainability; 05 social sciences; Climate change; Storytelling; 01 natural sciences; Public engagement; Science communication; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

An integral part of the communications strategy for Working Group I (WGI) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is to support its authors, in all geographical regions, to engage a diverse range of audiences with climate change. Building upon a Communications Handbook for IPCC authors and a bespoke photo library, both produced by Climate Outreach for WGI in 2018 ahead of the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5C, this paper describes the findings of a global survey that gathered practical examples of efforts by WGI authors to engage non-specialist audiences around the world with climate change. A total of 107 survey responses from 44 countries were evaluated against a theoretical framework outlining key principles of effective public engagement drawn from the social science literature. Ideas for how climate scientists can enhance their communication efforts are discussed, illustrated with case studies drawn from the survey responses showing WGI authors using creative techniques to engage people with climate change, including in Senegal, Argentina, India, the Bahamas and Indonesia. This is followed by guidance for the IPCC on developing communications strategies in a way that gives climate scientists confidence to communicate their work and promotes evidence-based techniques. By critically reflecting on the communication practices within the IPCC’s global author network, the paper provides insights and recommendations on how to continue to strengthen the connection between the theory and practice of climate science communication.