Communicating Climate Change through ICT-Based Visualization: Towards an Analytical Framework

Abstract

Abstract:The difficulties in communicating climate change science to the general public are often highlighted as one of the hurdles for support of enhanced climate action. The advances of interactive visualization using information and communication technology (ICT) are claimed to be a game-changer in our ability to communicate complex issues. However, new analytical frameworks are warranted to analyse the role of such technologies. This paper develops a novel framework for analyzing the content, form, context and relevance of ICT-based visualization of climate change, based on insights from literature on climate change communication. Thereafter, we exemplify the analytical framework by applying it to a pilot case of ICT-based climate visualization in a GeoDome. Possibilities to use affordable advanced ICT-based visualization devices in science and policy communication are rapidly expanding. We thus see wider implications and applications of the analytical framework not only for other ICT environments but also other issue areas in sustainability communication.

Images of climate change – a pilot study of young people’s perceptions of ICT-based climate visualization

“…Examples of such visualizations include advanced computer graphics, 3D landscape visualizations or immersive environments, such as digital planetariums, or other convex large-screen displays (Fraser et al 2012;Sheppard 2012). ICT-based visualization is becoming popular in science communication, not least since the rapid development of the interactive entertainment industry makes advanced visualization tools increasingly affordable and accessible to a growing number of communicators (Wibeck et al 2013). However, little research has been focused on how different target groups make sense of ICT-based visualization of problems, goals, and action alternatives (Sheppard, 2011;Salter et al 2009;Neset et al 2009).…”

“…ICT-based climate visualization is claimed to offer a way to overcome some of the challenges identified in the climate communication literature (Wibeck et al 2013;Moser 2010;Nicholson-Cole 2005). Examples of such visualizations include advanced computer graphics, 3D landscape visualizations or immersive environments, such as digital planetariums, or other convex large-screen displays (Fraser et al 2012;Sheppard 2012).…”

“…Recognizing the need to understand the target audience's preconceptions of climate change (e.g. Moriarty 1996;Wibeck et al 2013) and provide a context for the students' interpretations of the movie messages, a second subquestion asks: How do the students generally perceive the concept of climate change?…”

A novel deliberative multicriteria evaluation approach to ecosystem service valuation

“…Also, the selected method to communicate scenariorelated information to respondents or workshop participants may influence participants' knowledge building and preference judgements. Apart from the traditional scientific PowerPoint presentation, scientists have been using alternative methods to communicate science to the public such as videos, games, illustrations, and theater (Sheppard et al 2011, Wibeck et al 2013, Carpenter et al 2015. For example, Carpenter et al (2015) used illustrations and videos to communicate their scenarios to the general public.…”

Climate vulnerability assessment methodology: Agriculture under climate change in the Nordic region

“…Geographic visualization methodology could be divided according to relevant analytical components, such as data setup, visual display methods, participatory methods, and analysis of participant responses to the content, form, and relevance of the visualization tool (Salter et al 2009;Sheppard 2012;Bishop et al 2013;Wibeck et al 2013). This thesis separates the geovisualization methodology into Data content and visual displays and Participatory method -analysis and evaluation.…”