Climate change communication for enhanced urban resilience : communicating urban heat stress through visual narratives

Abstract

Climate change communication has become the buzzword of the day. It has caught the attention of researchers, practitioners and change-makers. The climate communication discourse has been dominated by ‘information-deficit’ model-led science communication but given the inefficacy of this approach, the discourse is shifting from deficit to dialogue. Climate change communication has image problem and perceptual barriers. Under-addressing the image problem is a serious missing link in climate change communication. Visual media can be highly instrumental in influencing the perceptions of the viewer about various climate challenges and inspire them to engage with climate action. In the broader context of climate change induced urban heat stress in Germany, this thesis attempts to develop an understanding about the effective usage of documentary photography as a credible visual communication tool at city level, to enhance urban stakeholders’ responses towards risk reduction and adaptation interventions for augmenting the urban resilience and amplifying the inclusive climate action. Using visual ethnography, a repository of urban heat stress visuals was created and visual frames were used to elicit the response from key stakeholders to understand their perception of the visual frames. This data was analysed to develop recommendations for effectively using photographic images in urban climate change communication. Results confirmed that Documentary photography can be used effectively to create visual frames of urban heat stress. The defining features of documentary photography make it a potent tool to capture visuals of urban heat stress. Visual frames and visual narratives open myriad possibilities of creating multiple engagements and dialogues. The locally rooted visual frames depicting everyday experience of heat stress, everyday vulnerability to extreme heat and peoples’ agency to cope with the heat, resonate well with different stakeholders. People interpret visual frames and narratives differently, depending on their background, interest, and context of viewing. Selecting the right kind of visuals for communication is the key to engage with stakeholders more effectively and enhance their engagement with local climate action.