IB Environmental systems and societies 6.3F Climate Change Perspectives Notes

Stakeholders Shape How the Public Sees Climate Change

1. Everyone is a stakeholder, but roles, influence and vulnerability differ widely.
2. Stakeholders shape how people understand and respond to climate change.
3. Their influence depends on trust, access to information and personal relevance.
4. The key groups that shape perception are charismatic individuals, local community groups, NGOs, media organisations and educational institutions.

How Each Group Influences Public Perception

1. Charismatic Individuals
   1. Public figures bring emotional engagement and urgency to the climate debate.
   2. They often draw younger people into environmental activism.
   3. They help turn awareness into motivation for behaviour change.

Attenborough, Gore and Thunberg in Action

Local Community Groups Make Action Practical

1. Local Community Groups
   1. They tackle climate change where it touches daily life, such as recycling, water conservation and flood preparedness.
   2. People act more readily when changes are practical and visible in their own neighbourhood.
   3. Community initiatives build social responsibility and collective participation.
   4. They often stress the co-benefits of action, like cleaner air or savings from energy efficiency.

NGOs Translate Science for the Public

1. Non-Governmental Organisations
   1. They run research and education campaigns that shape how the public understands climate change.
   2. They give voice to vulnerable communities at high risk from climate impacts.
   3. Their reach depends on funding, local support and scientific credibility.

Media Frames Whether Climate Is Settled or Debated