Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this study is to discuss the concept of information in relation to temporality within the context of climate change communication. Furthermore, the paper aims to highlight the empirical richness of information as a concept by analysing its use in context.Design/methodology/approachThe discussion is based on 14 semi-structured interviews with initiators and collaborators of 6 open letters on climate change published in 2018–2019. By taking three specific notions the interviewees introduced—fast food information, information quality and information gap–as the analytical point of departure, the study aims for a contextual understanding of information grounded in temporal sensitivity.FindingsThe paper finds that information in the context of open letters is informed by different, and at times contradicting, temporalities and timescapes which align with various material, institutional and discursive practices. Based on this finding, the paper argues that notions of information are intrinsically linked to the act of communicating, and they should be viewed as co-constituting each other.Originality/valueThe paper contributes with an empirically informed discussion regarding the concept of information as it is used in a specific context. It illustrates how “information” is far from being understood in a singular fashion, but is made up of multifaceted and at times contradictory understandings. Ultimately, they correspond to why and how one communicates climate change information.
Highlights
This paper explores the concept of information as it is used and understood in the context of researchers’ public communication efforts regarding climate change
The material for this paper consists of 14 semi-structured interviews with initiators and collaborators of 9 European open letters on climate change published in major European news outlets in 2018–2019
The European Commission’s 2030 climate target plan and the numerous science communication and environmental communication policies and incentives promoting public scientific engagements issued by the European Science Engagement Association (EUSEA) and European Economic Area (EEA) constitute a basis for comparability
Summary
This paper explores the concept of information as it is used and understood in the context of researchers’ public communication efforts regarding climate change. The paper highlights information and its temporalities, and how temporal understandings of information can contribute to our understanding of science communication on the topic of climate change. Research on the subject of information has been described as concerned with the chain of communications surrounding information. It is a field in which information cannot be seen in isolation from people, technology, organizations and social events The full terms of this licence may be seen at http:// creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
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