Seminars

Seminar Abstract

Talk for a change: challenges and opportunities for effective communication of climate change

Climate change requires societal engagement on both mitigation and adaptation. Citizens in urban and rural areas, in developed and developing nations, in private and public sectors, eventually, will need to reduce their emissions and other impacts on the regional and global climate and deal with the unavoidable near-term and potential longer-term impacts of climate change.

To achieve effective societal response to climate change, a busy, distracted and, so far, only marginally interested public - as well as decision-makers with many competing priorities- will need to be engaged. Climate experts and advocacy groups have played key roles in communicating climate change to these various publics, yet, arguably, have not yet achieved widespread engagement, much less meaningful dialogue.

This presentation will address how scientists and other communicators can do better in conveying their knowledge and engaging their audiences in a deeper conversation. Drawing on multi-disciplinary insights and practical experience garnered in a three-year project, this presentation will aim to dispel key myths still prevalent among communicators that can hinder societal response to climate change. It also offers suggestions to improve climate change communication and support the social changes needed to effectively respond to the immense challenge of climate change.

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CSIRO = Marine Laboratories Auditorium, Castray Esplanade, Hobart

For further information, or to schedule a seminar, contact:
Karen Wild-Allen, (Oceanographic seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5010
Piers Dunstan, (Biological seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5382
Sandra Zicus, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC (03) 6226 7888 & Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies (IASOS) University of Tasmania (03) 6226 2509