Approaching Climate Communication: A Narrative Literature Review

Abstract

In times of runaway climate change, it is as urgent as ever to develop effective communication strategies that encourage governments and citizens to cut carbon and foster socio-ecological transformations, while avoiding a sense of despair and ‘apocalypse fatigue’ among recipients. This narrative literature review starts by presenting the evolution of climate communication before reflecting on three distinct communication approaches: the information deficit model, the fear and safety argument, and finally, more recent, action-oriented approaches. The review offers a critical appraisal of these three approaches, highlighting their respective dynamics, communicative affordances, and limitations, as well as the integrative potential of storytelling. In addition, it considers the growing significance of social media as a powerful medium for climate communication and highlights voices from the so-called ‘Global South’, who emphasize the need for situated climate communication to address justice concerns. Throughout the review, we emphasize how geographical perspectives can inform the design of communication strategies that are responsive to spatial, cultural, and social contexts, thereby helping communicators and policymakers engage more effectively with diverse publics and navigate political resistance.