British Psychological Society and IEMA

Communicating Climate Change - 28th June 2019

• Dr Jan Maskell (BPS Division of Occupational Psychology GGWG)

Welcome and Introduction to Framing

• Dr Stuart Capstick (Cardiff University)

Research Project findings

• Kieran Power (AECOM)

Communicating the case for climate adaptation

LUNCH

• Dr Matt Winning (UCL - and comedian)

How comedy can be used as an engagement tool

• Hannah Phang (Futerra)

Communicating climate change to mainstream audiences

• Nick Blyth (IEMA Policy and Engagement Lead) and Jan Maskell

IEMA’s Greenhouse Management hierarchy and transition model

• Review and Close

Framing

Dr Jan Maskell CPsycholOccupational Psychologist

Acknowledgements to the Public Interest Research Centre

Introduction to

What do you all see?

School

Comprehensive School

Private School

State

Nanny

The more often the frame is activated, the stronger it gets. When it gets strong enough, the frame will define your “common sense.” Common sense is simply the collection of fixed frames that you use to understand what you experience and what you hear.”

George Lakoff2011

“

FramesA working definition

Mental structures – how we organise our ideas and experiences in memory.

Communication tools – how we activate (and shape) these structures with words, images and actions by creating particular associations

DEPRESSING GRAPH

Beast

Crime is a beast ravaging the city of

Addison. Five years ago Addison was in

good shape, with no obvious

vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, in the past

five years the city’s defense systems have

weakened, and the city has succumbed to

crime.

Today, there are more than 55,000 criminal

incidents a year - up by more than 10,000

per year. There is a worry that if the city

does not regain its strength soon, even

more serious problems may start to

develop.

vs.

Virus

Crime is a virus ravaging the city of

Addison. Five years ago Addison was in

good shape, with no obvious

vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, in the past

five years the city’s defense systems have

weakened, and the city has succumbed to

crime.

Today, there are more than 55,000 criminal

incidents a year - up by more than 10,000

per year. There is a worry that if the city

does not regain its strength soon, even

more serious problems may start to

develop.

Thibodeau & Boroditsky, 2011

Consumer vs. CitizenIncidence of terms in The Times, 1950-2006

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Consumer

Citizen

CHANGING THE FRAMINGCHANGES THE THINKINGCHANGES THE OUTCOME

Avoiding Elephants

Your