A Critical Introduction to Environmental Communication

Chapter 1: Introduction – Environmental Communication as Joint Construction of Meaning  Theme 1: Environmental Communication – Selected Concepts Chapter 2: The Role of Ideas in Environmental Communication Chapter 3: Environmental Communication as Symbolic Interaction Chapter 4: Social Practices and Environmental Communication Chapter 5: Environmental Communication and Governance Chapter 6: Power and Environmental Communication  Theme 2: Understandings of ‘Communication’ in Environmental Communication Chapter 7: Theorising Environmental Communication for Social Change Chapter 8: Understanding Conflict through Environmental Communication Chapter 9: The Professional Cultures of Environmental Communication  Theme 3: Environmental Communication in a Complex World Chapter 10: Participation and Dialogue as Environmental Communication Chapter 11: Nature Interpretation as Environmental Communication Chapter 12: Environmental Communication in a Digital Society Chapter 13: Environmental Communication Campaigns Chapter 14: Advocacy and Activism as Environmental Communication Chapter 15: Conclusion – Towards Reflective Practice in Environmental Communication

Biography

The authors work at the Division of Environmental Communication at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. They do research on a wide variety of environmental and sustainability issues, approaching environmental communication from a range of social science perspectives. All of them teach in the Master’s programme Environmental Communication and Management that attracts students from all over the world.

Malte Rödl is an Associate Professor in environmental communication, investigating the interactions between people, technology and environmental issues. Malte’s research combines insights from science and technology studies, information studies and sociology to explore the implications of digitisation for societal capacity to negotiate environmental concerns. Malte holds a PhD from the University of Manchester, UK (2019), and lives in Sweden since 2020.

Amelia Mutter is a researcher and teacher in environmental communication. She earned her PhD in Technology and Social Change in 2020 from Linköping University, Sweden, where her research focused on future energy imaginaries. Her research interests concern the role of new technologies, imaginaries and understandings of science and expertise in sustainability transitions, as well as the role of different stakeholders in co-constructing these.

Anke Fischer is Professor of Environmental Communication. After her PhD at the University of Göttingen, Germany (2004), she moved to Scotland, where she did research on meaning-making and conflict related to land use and sustainability issues, combining perspectives from psychology, sociology and governance studies. Between 2010 and 2012, she lived in Tanzania and Ethiopia, focusing her research on questions of wildlife management. Since moving to Sweden in 2019, her work examines the discursive construction of climate policy.

Camilo Calderon is a lecturer and researcher specialising in collaborative governance, and Study Director of the Master’s programme Environmental Communication and Management. He holds a PhD from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (2013). His work on collaboration spans energy transitions, urban renewal, sustainable development and public space design. His current research explores how inclusive decision-making can address challenges linked to climate change, rapid urbanization, polarization and public resistance.

Lars Hallgren is a senior lecturer. With a PhD in environmental communication from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (2003), his research examines communication in conflict and collaboration contexts as well as metadiscourses in professional environmental communication cultures. He has been involved in education in environmental communication since 1995 and has been instrumental in initiating, designing and implementing the Master’s programme in Environmental Communication and Management since its inception in 2007.

“… this book is a present to us and a blessing for us as students of environmental communication. Each and every concept is explained with concrete details, easy language and examples. Basically, I love that book ."

- Anam Basit, Student, Environmental Communication, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

“This broad-ranging study from a Nordic perspective provides a fresh and comprehensive frame of reference for the reader, wherever they come from. With wide-ranging integrated chapters, coupled with easy-to-read summaries and freshly minted examples from around the world, the volume provides engaging perspectives and different ways to make sense of the breadth and depth of environmental communications, while promoting critical and reflective practice. From years of teaching this area, I can confidently recommend this wide-ranging study for students and academics alike. This high level of scholarship is most important as we strive to address the complex interconnecting challenges we face in securing our future on this planet.” 

- Pat Brereton, Emeritus Professor, School of Communications, Dublin City University

“This timely and critical introduction of core concepts of environmental communications presents us with a much-needed focus on key issues relevant to the challenges most ENGOs face in a time of increased public polarization and political pressure. For practitioners in the field this book does not only offer a helpful review of theories about communication and society, but also guides the reader through the workings of environmental advocacy and activism with a variation of engaging use cases.”  

- Sönke Lorenzen, Senior Research Manager, Greenpeace International

“(Test reading parts of this book) was a pleasure – it pulled me in immediately. The writing is engaging. The ideas and examples were thought-provoking and the flow kept me captivated. This chapter convinced me to read the entire book – it has such much to offer.” 

- Chanda Poudyal, Student, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)

“’A Critical Introduction to Environmental Communication’ is essential reading for understanding the vital role of communication in generating awareness, fostering activism, enhancing policymaking, and improving responsible environmental governance. With case studies ranging from the Indigenous North to big data HQs, from the ‘wild west’ of contemporary social media platforms to local activist campaigns, the chapters of this book outline easy-to-understand theoretical analysis, practical case studies, self-learning tasks and further activities for students and professionals alike to improve their engagement with the complexities of communication as a vital tool for shaping our planetary environmental futures.” 

–Pietari Kaapa, Professor in Media and Communications at the Centre for Cultural and Media Policy Studies, University of Warwick, UK