Environmental Communication Research Articles

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION IN LOCAL CULTURAL TRADITIONS AS A FORM OF MITIGATION OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

The increasing number of the world's population, especially in Indonesia, has led to an increase in the need for clothing and shelter. In order to fulfill these needs, communities carry out massive exploitation of forest resources. This exploitation action is in the form of changing or converting forest land into food land or residential land for the community. This activity results is reduced carbon absorption land and an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere or well known as climate change. So, it is necessary to protect and manage the environment, one of which is through environmental communication in local cultural traditions. In this case, communication is believed to provide a platform that is able to facilitate the process of exchanging information, knowledge, and wisdom. The good synergy between the government, environmentalists, as well as local cultural traditions that have long been developed and preserved in the community is expected to be an action to mitigate global climate change. This study was used qualitative research methods and data collection was done through interviews, observations, and documentation. The results showed that the local cultural tradition known as sidekah turun ton is a tradition carried out by the Karang Bayan indigenous community once every 8 years in order to maintain the harmonization of nature and humans. The tradition of preserving the forest is one way to communicate the importance of protecting the environment for the survival of the community in the future.

The need for local-adjusted Participatory Forest Management in biodiversity hotspots

Numerous conservation activities in Africa have been of little effect. In this study, we investigate socio-economic trade-offs that might have been overlooked, yet may undermine conservation action in discret pathways. Data was collected in three study sites with fragile forest ecosystems in south-eastern Kenya, through locally adapted structured surveys and semi-structured expert guides. These analyses are drawn from 827 structured surveys and 37 expert interviews, which were done during 2016–2018. We found general coherences between age, gender, ethnicity, indigenous knowledge, formal education, and higher incomes, which shapes forest conservation attitudes. Indigenous knowledge is marginal, and most people with formal education in the rural setting are likely to be young without legal land rights or among the minority with off-farm employment. The reluctance to address historical land injustices and inequitable sharing of entitlements and management authority overrides positive attitudes and intentions towards forest conservation in all three study sites. However, we found considerable discrepancies among the three study sites. For Arabuko Sokoke forest, the awareness of forest conservation was relatively low when compared with the other two study sites. Forests play a major role against the backdrop of resource use in all three regions. But, different ecosystem services are used among the three study sites. For environmental education and communication, internet plays a comparatively minor role. Strategies to preserve forest differ among the three study sites: Reforestation is proposed in cloud forests of Taita Hills and riparian forests, whereas off-farm employment and alternative income sources plays a major role in Arabuko Sokoke forest. Our findings underline that locally specific conservation management is needed to conduct efficient nature conservation, particularly in countries with very heterogeneous ethnicities and environments.

How to Shape Consumer Reaction to Corporate Environmental Communications

Companies may inform consumers about their pro-environmental actions by using either positively or negatively framed messages that, respectively, highlight the possible benefits deriving from such actions versus the drawbacks deriving from inaction. It is still unclear, however, how these two communication tactics influence consumers’ intentions and behaviors. Three studies demonstrate that negatively framed messages have a positive effect on company trustworthiness, which, in turn, exerts a favorable influence on message receivers’ intentions and behaviors. Such an effect holds only when receivers are concerned about environmental problems and perceive the company as potentially harmful to the environment. The results highlight the importance of using an appropriate framing to foster trust in environmentally responsible companies.

Relatório corporativo socioambiental e greenwashing: análise de uma empresa mineradora brasileira

Abstract This case study analyzes the corporate socioenvironmental report (CSR) of a Brazilian company to identify potential vulnerabilities of the practice of greenwashing. Based on consultation of the relevant literature obtained from the databases of the CAPES Periodical Portal, SPELL, and Google Scholar, it was possible to identify the assumptions for the occurrence of greenwashing, arranged in categories for analysis. The study is qualitative and exploratory in nature, employing reflexive thematic analysis of the company’s disclosures and the information obtained from newspapers in light of the pertinent legislation. The results partially confirmed the hypotheses in the sense that it is possible for greenwashing to occur related to the CSR. The results also indicated that the process of independent verification of the reports has a limited effect to counteract this potential practice. The singularity of this study is the interdisciplinary approach and analysis of publicly available information about a determined period compared to the content of the CSR. The triangulation of the information can contribute to a better understanding of the CSR and foster reflection on the role of corporate environmental communication and the need for better reporting of non-financial information.

Biodiversity communication at the UN Summit 2020: Blending business and nature

Biodiverse ecosystems play a key role in maintaining life on earth. In response to rapid declines in biodiversity throughout the world, the UN Biodiversity Summit 2020 brought together world leaders to discuss potential solutions. We draw on cognitive linguistics, critical discourse analysis and ecolinguistics in analysing the summit contributions. All speakers blended vocabulary from the fields of BUSINESS and NATURE; in doing so, they were able to advocate solving biodiversity loss by implementing approaches commonly found in business. In addition, three main ‘moves’ were employed in these speeches: (i) the state of nature was lamented, (ii) the interdependent relationship between humans and nature was mentioned and (iii) a call to action was given. It is argued that relying on the BUSINESS–NATURE blend for solutions to environmental problems serves to maintain the status quo and may obscure pathways to transformational change. Linguistic strategies for more effective environmental communication are suggested.

Examining Pre-existing Environmental Beliefs: Using a PSA to Investigate the Role of Self-Efficacy and Response Efficacy on Behavioral Intentions

ABSTRACT Effectively communicating the issue of climate change and related threats can be challenging for climate scientists, practitioners, and scholars. Environmental messages are so prevalent in the everyday media landscape that audience members often-times do not give them adequate attention. One potential avenue to educate the public and explain the risks of climate change may be through Public Service Announcements (PSAs). A randomized experiment was conducted to test a model informed by Protection Motivation Theory. The model suggests that exposure to a climate change PSA (versus a no-message control) is positively associated with self-efficacy and response efficacy, which are in turn associated with pro-environmental behavioral intentions. Results indicate support for the proposed model among participants with low preexisting environmental beliefs, and a ceiling effect for those with high beliefs. Counter to expectations, a reinforcement effect was observed; the PSA had a negative effect on those with unfavorable preexisting beliefs. Implications for environmental communication theory and message design are discussed.

Lessons from Media-Centered Climate Change Literature

Climate change has become a global challenge over the years and the media has played an important part in the dissemination of information, research on which constitutes a substantial body of scientific literature. This study aimed to map media-centered climate change articles to highlight the relevant lessons within the field. The lessons learned are as follows. (1) Two environmental communication journals are the primary publication venues that prioritize climate change-focused articles. (2) Media-centered climate change literature peaked in 2020, and (3) many countries attracted scholarly interest. (4) Newspapers were examined more than any other media form. (5) The first authors of media-centered climate change articles are westerners. (6) Almost 50% of media-centered climate change articles did not adopt a theory. (7) Quantitative and (8) content analysis methods are the most adopted data collection methods. (9) Finally, this review shows that communication and media scholars are most interested in media-centered climate change articles.

The Growth and Disciplinary Convergence of Environmental Communication: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Field (1970–2019)

Recent reviews describe academic scholarship on environmental communication as a subdiscipline of communication studies focused on mass media. However, these reviews may not provide a full picture of the field. We searched one of the most comprehensive citation databases (Scopus) for articles published from 1970 to 2019 containing the root terms environment* communicat*. The dataset (n = 474) revealed an increase over time in the number of journals that publish environmental communication studies and the breadth of their National Science Foundation disciplinary categorizations. Climate communication, corporate social responsibility, and public engagement and participation represent the most frequent abstract topics. Through co-citation analysis of journals cited in references, we found that the foundational literatures informing the field have grown into dense, interconnected networks across disparate areas of scholarship that span the social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and business. This disciplinary convergence is a positive sign for the field’s potential to address problems of societal importance.

Differences between Zoo/Aquarium Staff and Visitors’ Values, Beliefs, and Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Consequences for Environmental Communication

The value priorities, pro-environmental beliefs and pro-environmental behaviors of zoo/aquarium staff, volunteers, visitors and non-visitors are examined to test whether they differ in ways that may impact zoos’ effectiveness in communicating environmental messages. Online surveys were completed by 607 staff (including 157 educators), 339 volunteers, 1444 frequent visitors, 2321 occasional visitors and 350 non-visitors across 12 sites in North America and Australia. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare different categories of staff; and to compare educator, volunteer, visitor and non-visitor groups, in relation to their values and pro-environmental beliefs and behaviors. Educators and volunteers were found to ascribe greater importance to self-transcendence values than visitors, and this was reflected in their pro-environmental beliefs and behaviors. These differences may hinder educators’ ability to design and present environmental messages that resonate with current and potential visitors whose values may differ significantly from their own. Suggestions for mitigating this are discussed.

Tracking the Path of the Green Consumer: Surveying the Decision-Making Process from Self-Transcendent Values to Supportive CSR Intentions

This paper examines the relationship between individual traits and values of consumers and their decision-making process pertaining to purchasing green products from companies with a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Guided by the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the main goal of this online survey (N = 463) is to understand the relationship between self-transcendent values, environmentalism, attitudes, norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, and purchase frequency to better understand how consumers make green purchasing decisions. A structural equation model shows support for our predictions that self-transcendent values significantly and positively predict environmentalism, which in turn predicted the TPB variables. Interestingly, only attitudes towards purchasing green products were significantly predictive of purchasing products from companies with strong commitments to CSR, which subsequently predicted actual purchase frequency. We hope that our research will benefit scholars and practitioners by contributing to the work in CSR and environmental communication.

Returning Individual Tap Water Testing Results to Research Study Participants after a Wildfire Disaster.

After the devastating wildfire that destroyed most of the town of Paradise, California in 2018, volatile organic compounds were found in water distribution pipes. Approximately 11 months after the fire, we collected tap water samples from 136 homes that were still standing and tested for over 100 chemicals. Each participant received a customized report showing the laboratory findings from their sample. Our goal was to communicate individual water results and chemical information rapidly in a way that was understandable, scientifically accurate, and useful to participants. On the basis of this process, we developed a framework to illustrate considerations and priorities that draw from best practices of previous environmental results return research and crisis communication, while also addressing challenges specific to the disaster context. We also conducted a follow-up survey on participants’ perceptions of the results return process. In general, participants found the results return communications to be understandable, and they felt less worried about their drinking water quality after receiving the information. Over one-third of the participants reported taking some kind of action around their water usage habits after receiving their results. Communication with participants is a critical element of environmental disaster research, and it is important to have a strategy to communicate results that achieves the goals of timeliness, clarity, and scientific accuracy, ultimately empowering people toward actions that can reduce exposure.

Functional parameters of environmental communication

Introduction. The article is devoted to environmental communication, which has been functioning in the global space-time for a long time. The purpose of the survey is to analyze the scope of the concept of "environmental communication", to find out the functions of environmental communication, its subjects, features, types, to analyze the existing models of environmental communication, to identify the largest virtual platforms for environmental communication. Methods. A number of general scientific and linguistic methods were used in the research. In particular, the methods of analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction and the descriptive method are used to justify the theoretical base of the research and generalize the observations. The terminological analysis is applied to the definitions of the concept of "environmental communication" that function in the scientific discourse and the Internet space. The comparative method was used to compare models of environmental communication. Using the method of communicative-pragmatic analysis, the functions of environmental communication were determined. Results and discussion. It was determined that the phenomenon of environmental communication has different scientific treatment in different language traditions. The functioning of the concept of "environmental communication" in the English and Ukrainian scientific paradigms and media space is compared: in the English discourse, the same or similar treatment of this concept is observed, on the other hand, in the Ukrainian scientific discourse, it is used in three different meanings, which, however, have a common seme. A refined definition of the considered concept is proposed. The forms of environmental communication (public, group, interpersonal) and its types (direct and mediated, formal and informal, spontaneous and planned, oral, written and visual, verbal and non-verbal, personal and interpersonal) and its subjects are described, its dual subjectivity and interdisciplinary nature, convergence, cyclicity are emphasized. The functions of environmental communication are distinguished, in particular communicative, epistemological, constitutional-perceptive, interactive, and pragmatic. Models of the structure – linear and convergent – of environmental communication as a subspecies of general communication are considered. Educational and scientific platforms for the exchange of environmentally oriented information were considered. We see the prospects for further research in the following: establish hierarchical relationships between the concepts of "environmental communication" and "environmental discourse"; to reveal the ratio of texts of functional styles in environmental discourse, the structure of Ukrainian environmental discourse, etc.

Environmental Communication and Mining Behavior to Small-Scale Mining Transformational Change

Environmental Communication and Mining Behavior to Small-Scale Mining Transformational Change

DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION SKILLSIN STUDENT TEACHERS

The article is devoted to the problem of formation of environmental communication skills among future teachers in the process of professional training. The psychological-pedagogical foundations of the formation of future educators' environmental communication skills in the process of professional training are theoretically and methodologically substantiated. The article analyses the approaches of scientists to the interpretation of concepts that make up the scientific thesaurus of research: ‘ecological communication’, ‘ecological approach’, ‘ecological behaviour’, ‘ecological environment of the child’. The importance of ecological communication in the educational environment of a preschool education institution is substantiated. On the basis of the analysis of scientific works, the components of the studied education are distinguished: motivational, social, communicative, reflective; groups of technologies, effective non-traditional teaching methods are defined; methodological approaches of effective formation of skills to organize environmental communication with children of preschool age in a preschool education institution. The complex of pedagogical conditions for the effective formation of environmental communication skills in future educators in the process of professional training is characterized. It is proposed to modernize the pedagogical conditions for the formation of environmental communication skills among future educators through the implementation of coaching technologies during the pedagogical practices of students. The meaning of the concept of ‘ecological communication’ as non-violent communication, which includes awareness and respect for one's own and others' personal boundaries, self-love and care for one's inner comfort, tolerance, acceptance of one's own and others' shortcomings, empathy, has been clarified. The fundamental principles of ecological communication in the educational environment of the preschool education institution are defined

Industrial Pioneerism in the Beehive State: Rio Tinto and the Corporate Persona

Contributing to organizational rhetoric, environmental communication, and persona criticism, this paper offers the corporate persona as a heuristic for mapping the rhetorical forces of corporate rhetors in a networked era of rhetoric and subjectivity. Giving the rhetor presence where there is absence, the corporate persona is a single image of a multiple subject implied by discursive and extra-discursive networks. I show how mining giant Rio Tinto Kennecott (RTK), which owns the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine outside of Salt Lake City, uses places, spaces, and objects—including a visitor’s center, a suburban community, a soccer stadium, and a natural history museum—to create a pioneer persona that is tied to cultural memories of the Utah Deseret. RTK’s persona is illustrative of how corporations are networked subjects that can adapt their very selfhoods to meet different exigencies while evading singular responsibilities.

Algorithmically embodied emissions: the environmental harm of everyday life information in digital culture

This conceptual paper introduces the notion of algorithmically embodied emissions to highlight how everyday choices facilitated by commercial algorithmic information systems such as commercial search engines, social media and recommender systems contribute to the climate crisis and other forms of environmental destruction. The proposed concept is developed by integrating terminology from the fields of information studies, critical algorithm studies and environmental impact assessment, and by examining a strategic selection of examples. Through the examples, the authors show that semantic interpretation of queries as well as the information architecture involve normative dimensions with implications for the climate crisis and other forms of environmental destruction. The paper proposes a terminological framework that integrates conceptual considerations from environmental impact assessment, environmental communication, information studies and critical algorithm studies to articulate how algorithmic information systems are co-constitutive of environmental harm. The paper further suggest to extend environmental impact assessment to include algorithmic harms in order to take into account how responsibility and accountability are distributed among different actors with profoundly different conditions and opportunities to exercise them.

How to Live Safely with Bats? Ignorance(s) in post-Ebola Risk Communication (Guinea, Sierra Leone)

The 2013–6 Ebola disease epidemic in West Africa drove a surge of environmental communication campaigns in regions considered at-risk for Ebola, despite uncertainty about the disease’s transmission pathways from animals to humans. This article examines fractures in knowledge produced through the communication of an unstable truth about the risk of contracting Ebola from an animal source. It presents sources arising from efforts of risk communication in Guinea: excerpts from community outreach materials and documented scenes of verbal jousting between communication agents and their audience, in which the status of animals, and in particular bats, as the reservoir of the Ebola virus is an object of controversies between US infectious disease experts, Sierra Leonean and Guinean project employees and residents of Forest Guinea. Several types of ignorance structure community outreach activities: reductionism inherent to “risk behaviour” research, strategic ignorance in risk communication, ignorance as an epistemic marker of social status, and the socio-political uncertainty in which post-Ebola interventions take place. Using insights from the anthropology of ignorance and development studies, I argue that asymmetries in ignorances, plural and contingent, structure risk communication and its impotence in reforming local lifeways defined as “risk behaviours.”

Environmental communication network on Indonesian forest fires on Twitter in pandemic COVID-19 era

The study aims to reveal the communication network on Twitter about forest fires in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research method used is descriptive qualitative. The theory used in this research is communication networking. The analysis technique uses Social Networking Analysis or SNA. Conversation data on Twitter is pulled through emprit drones by entering keywords fire, forest, and land. The research findings show; Conversation volume was 617 conversations, with five actors mentioning the most, namely @VICE-ID, @BBCIndonesia, @totoroeksib, @GoldenMiru, and @ari_trismana with 16 conversations. Of the 617 conversations, 243 had negative sentiments, 368 had positive sentiments and 6 were neutral. The five words that appear the most in the discussion of forest and land fires are forest - hutan (with a small h) 459 times, land -lahan 147 times, Forest -Hutan (with large H) 80 times, disaster -bencana 60 times, and smoke -asap 56 times. During the 10 days of talking, there were 67 hashtags, with the top five being #hijabbugil, #eksibisionis, and # exhibition with 27 mentions, following #PreventedKarhutla with 16 mentions, and 13 mentions #KoperasiPerkuatPertuangan.

Strategy for Establishing Environmental Communication in Instruding Environmental Care Behavior at Adiwiyata School, Bekasi 7 Sma Negeri

Strategy for Establishing Environmental Communication in Instruding Environmental Care Behavior at Adiwiyata School, Bekasi 7 Sma Negeri

Language and Ecology In Silau Malela Society (Ecolinguistics Study)

This study focused on to ecolinguistics study that talks about the language and ecology in the Silau Malela society. This study was to find out how the people who lived in Silau Malela, merged into the environment to keep the balance between human and their environment. Ecolinguistics is an interdisciplinary study between ecology or environment and language (linguistics) which is expressed by the human. So this study was not focused on ecology, but it discussed language in life. This study used qualitative research by doing observation and interviewing the people who lived in Silau Malela. This research describes the relationship between human and environmental communication. This society is so familiar with their environment and they also keep the situation so that they can communicate to the surroundings such as their cows, dogs, and others (the pets) and plantations when they do their activities with their pets and plantation. They also gave the name for their pets and sometimes to their plantation so that they understood the meaning of their owner when they were talking to their environment.