Communicating on climate change after COVID-19

Abstract

This research was commissioned by ClimateXChange, on behalf of the Scottish Government, as part of a range of work to further develop Scottish Government public engagement activity on climate change. The aim of the work was to: • Study the potential impact of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic on how the Scottish public understand and respond to climate change messaging and narratives; and • Assess how this learning can be applied to successfully facilitate support for a green recovery from the pandemic by using language and framing that speaks to people’s values, generates a positive impact on key audiences, and encourages the action needed. The research found that the impact of COVID-19 has widened the narrative around climate change to highlight that: collective action and change are possible, and in recovering from the pandemic, there is the opportunity to introduce further measures to tackle climate change.