Climate Communications: Conflicts and Opportunities

Abstract

The occasion for this forum was sparked by a front-page story in the New York Times by John M. Broder entitled, “Seeking to Save the Planet, with a Thesaurus” (May 1, 2009, p. A11). The article focused on the non-profit EcoAmerica's report, “Climate and Energy Truths: Our Common Future,” which shares research on communication approaches to engaging climate change and energy issues. The Broder article included commentary from Robert J. Brulle, Professor of Sociology and Environmental Science at Drexel University. In response, George P. Lakoff, Professor of Cognitive Science and Linguistics at UC-Berkeley, published an essay in The Huffington Post, “Why Environmental Understanding, or ‘Framing,’ Matters: An Evaluation of the EcoAmerica Summary Report” (May 19, 2009). The discussion about this report and differing approaches to environmental communication continued on blogs, in emails, and through various other forums. The editorial leadership team of this journal thought such prominent attention to environmental communication in the nexus of so many disciplines and professional investments was exciting. We are pleased the following scholars and practitioners are willing to elaborate on the stakes of this discussion in this forum.

Keywords:

• Global Climate Change
• Frame Analysis
• Messaging
• Social Movements
• Mobilization

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robert M. Perkowitz

Robert M. Perkowitz (B.S., Lake Forest College; M.B.A., Lake Forest Graduate School of Management) is the Founder and President of ecoAmerica. He has over 25 years of experience as an executive of direct marketing and manufacturing organizations, including Cornerstone Brands, Inc. and Smith & Noble. Perkowitz currently is Managing Partner of VivaTerra LLC, and Chairman of Potenco, Inc. In addition, Perkowitz is a director Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Defense Fund of North Carolina, and World Bicycle Relief. He served a Trustee of the Sierra Club Foundation (2001–2007), and he currently serves on the Sierra Club's National Advisory Council