University of Michigan climate change conference report available

Earlier this year, hundreds gathered online and at the University of Michigan for a three-day conference on the shaping of public opinion around climate change.

‘Increasing Public Understanding of Climate Risks and Choices: What We Can Learn from Social Science Research and Practice’, sponsored by U-M’s Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise and the Union of Concerned Scientists, brought together social and climate scientists; business, political and religious leaders; climate communication professionals; and students to share their perspectives from experience and research.

Participants reached a general consensus that an American response to climate change cannot be built without engaging the ‘persuadable middle’ - those who are neither alarmed nor dismissive about the issue. Other central themes included: the necessity of multiple messengers (not just scientists) for multiple audiences; the best ways for social scientists to disseminate their findings and maximise the applicability of their climate change research; and the necessity of considering climate communication a single project in the context of a much broader process.

A final report of the conference is available here.