Toolkit home > Best Practices > Framing and Communication Guides
A Yale article found that the two terms are used differently and mean different things among many Americans. Does Word Choice Matter? [PDF] looked at the use of these terms and found some differences in perceptions based on political party affiliation.
This article from Environment magazine introduces the concept of Frames and examines different frames applicable to climate change.
This article from the George Wright Forum provides some key findings about how visitors to parks most prefer to learn about climate change.
If you’re new to communicating about this issue, a good first step is to explore the Interpreting Climate Change Self-Study Module (Module 4) on Appropriate Techniques and Strategies. It provides a well-organized and interactive approach to help you identify the best techniques to use and to examine some good examples and models to apply for yourself. You will find a Study Guide and Learning Companion to help you cultivate facilitation skills, develop strategies for a variety of audiences, and acquire skills needed for embracing controversy.
Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science
This short guide presents information that is deemed important for individuals and communities to know and understand about Earth’s climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches to adaptation or mitigation. Principles in the guide can serve as discussion starters or launching points for scientific inquiry. The guide aims to promote greater climate science literacy by providing this educational framework of principles and concepts. The guide can also serve educators who teach climate science as a way to meet content standards in their science curricula.
The Center for Research on Environmental Decisions at the Earth Institute of Columbia University partnered with ecoAmerica to publish this guide to synthesize their findings after many years of communicating climate change. In particular, much of this guide focuses on understanding your audience and crafting messages to best reach them. Their Psychology of Climate Change Communication guide is similarly helpful.
Climate Communications and Behavior Change: A Guide for Practitioners
This communication guide focuses on communicating climate change to create behavior changes among the audience. Case studies, examples, and success stories are used to illustrate points and ideas.
Last updated: September 15, 2020