Climate Change Communication Research: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This study is an examination of climate change communication research in which we examine topical, geographical and methodological trends. Using 160 peer-reviewed journal articles as evidence, we assess the field’s climate change research to-date and draw recommendations for future directions for research. Our findings illustrate that the majority of surveyed research focuses on public knowledge of and public belief in climate change, draws data from the Global North and tends toward quantitative methodological approaches, although a diversity of methodological approaches are represented. We recommend that future research correct ethnocentric tendencies by studying underrepresented regions such as the African continent, Latin America and the Caribbean, attend more to studies addressing adaptation to climate change impacts and embrace methodologies that address the localized nature of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.