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The SHAPE of Effective Climate Change Communication: Taking a RoundView

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Book cover Handbook of Climate Change Communication: Vol. 2

Part of the book series: Climate Change Management ((CCM))

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Abstract

The challenges of developing new approaches for climate change adaptation and mitigation cannot be solved unilaterally. We need to work together strategically and communicate more effectively. This requires more than just sharing a simple message—it requires widespread learning and capacity building for change. Decades of action research have led to the development of two frameworks that support this. First, the ‘SHAPE’ framework gives an understanding of the characteristics of learning initiatives for capability building. Second, the ‘RoundView’ gives a systems-based framework for understanding environmental problems. It helps people understand the underlying causes of climate change, and offers a set of positive guidelines to help us actively navigate towards a desired future. Applying the SHAPE framework in climate change communication helps make fundamental environmental ideas accessible to a wide range of people, from primary school children to board room executives. This builds skills amongst participants to both explore and respond to the issues. The aim is to increase not just participants’ capability to act, but also their motivation and enthusiasm for change, together with their ability to communicate effectively with others towards this end. This paper presents the SHAPE framework, providing a guide to key concepts and approaches to consider in the design of climate change communication and learning initiatives. It reviews evidence gathered so far regarding the efficacy of SHAPE and the RoundView in terms of increasing understanding, capacity and motivation for change.

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Acknowledgements

Foundational research was funded by the ESRC (PTA-026-27-0068, S42200124048), Mersey Basin Campaign, the Sustainable Consumption Institute and Tesco. Thanks to the research team on the Sustainable Consumption Institute project: Ebenhaezer le Roux, Graeme Sherriff, Pete Mann and Valerie Farnsworth. The Ellen McArthur Foundation, UNLTD, HEFCE, UMI3 and CEEBL have supported development of the RoundView learning tools. The Heritage Lottery Fund funds the Carbon Landscape project. For more information, see www.roundview.org and www.carbonlandscape.org.uk.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Planning and Environmental Management, School of Environment, Education and Development, The University of Manchester, Humanities Bridgeford Street Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

    Joanne Tippett

  2. How Creative, Independent Consultant, Manchester, England, UK

    Fraser How

Authors
  1. Joanne Tippett
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  2. Fraser How
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Correspondence to Joanne Tippett .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. HAW Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

  2. Department of Forestry and Management, Democritus University of Thrace, Orestiada, Greece

    Evangelos Manolas

  3. Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Anabela Marisa Azul

  4. Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Ulisses M. Azeiteiro

  5. Manchester Museum, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Henry McGhie

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Tippett, J., How, F. (2018). The SHAPE of Effective Climate Change Communication: Taking a RoundView. In: Leal Filho, W., Manolas, E., Azul, A., Azeiteiro, U., McGhie, H. (eds) Handbook of Climate Change Communication: Vol. 2. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70066-3_23

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