Aquatic pharmaceutical pollution poses ecotoxicological risks to the environment and human health. Consumer attitudes and behavior represent a significant source of pharmaceutical compounds found in water. Thus, understanding public perceptions of aquatic pharmaceutical pollution and developing effective risk communication techniques are critical to engaging society in the type of widespread change necessary for addressing the presence of pharmaceuticals in water. This mixed-methods study applies conceptual metaphor theory in conjunction with construal level theory of psychological distance to assess how metaphoric framing affects perceptions of aquatic pharmaceutical contamination across four principal dimensions of psychological distance (geographic, social and temporal distance and uncertainty). Additionally, this study assesses the direct impact of metaphor use on concern and willingness to act, which are positively associated with perceived psychological distance. Data were collected from a convenience sample (n = 20) of university students in Burlington, Vermont using cognitive interviewing. Results indicate that pharmaceutical pollution was initially perceived as geographically distant, socially distant, temporally both proximate and distant and certain (versus uncertain). Our findings suggest people perceive distances in various ways, suggesting a need for validated questions to consistently measure psychological distance. Participants preferred the metaphorically-framed visual intervention to the non-metaphor visual intervention. Further, participants’ perception of pharmaceutical pollution changed to being more geographically and socially close after viewing the metaphoric visual only. Previous research indicates perceived psychological closeness leads to increased motivation and preparedness to act. Theoretical and practical implications of metaphor use in risk communications are discussed.

Cette recherche est née d'une interrogation sur le lien entre des concepts environnementaux omniprésents dans la communication de grandes structures internationales ou nationales et leur reprise dans la communication d'une structure à caractère plus local. Ainsi la biodiversité illustre ce mécanisme : en 2010, l'ONU déclarait l'Année Internationale de la Biodiversité et mettait en place une campagne de communication très bien relayée par les médias ; cette même année, le Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat lançait officiellement son Observatoire de la Biodiversité. On cherche dans cette thèse à montrer comment la communication environnementale se professionnalise dans la structure du Parc et comment elle devient ainsi un enjeu fort pour celui-ci ; non plus uniquement pour des raisons de message à transmettre, mais également, dans un contexte de plus en plus concurrentiel, pour des raisons de financements à obtenir. La biodiversité est donc réinvestie dans une perspective stratégique dans la communication du Parc du Pilat. L'observation des dispositifs de communication du Parc pose en outre la question de leur rôle dans la construction d'une identité pour l'organisation. Cette identité, loin d'être fixe, semble, suite aux observations menées, être en perpétuelle adaptation aux situations d'interactions selon qu'elles nécessitent la création d'un monde commun ou d'un espace de différenciation. On montrera ainsi comment la biodiversité, concept communicationnel au discours très défini par l'ONU dans sa campagne, est à la fois adaptée aux besoins identitaires de la communication du Parc dans un discours original, mais aussi mobilisée comme cadre normalisé dans une stratégie d'identification. / The central theme of this thesis arose from questions about the links between key environmental concepts in international and national communication and their impact on communication at local level. Biodiversity indeed perfectly illustrates such interactions insofar as the UN launched 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity – which was widely covered by the media –, while the Regional Natural Park of Pilat chose the same year to develop its Biodiversity Observatory project. This study aims at showing that environmental communication is becoming more professional in the Park for which such concerns have now become a major issue. Not only is communication crucial to have messages delivered, but it has become a strategic tool for financing purposes in a context of increasingly fierce competition. The stakes of biodiversity have been reinvested into the communication strategy of the Pilat Park. The observation of the communication devices of the Park also raises the question of their role in building an identity for the organization. According to the research we conducted, far from being fixed, this identity seems to be constantly adapting to interaction situations, depending on whether they require the creation of a common world or of a differentiation space. We will thus explain how biodiversity – which is a concept very clearly defined by the UN in its campaign speeches –, is both adapted to the identity needs of communication of the Park in an original discourse, and used as a standardized framework in an identification strategy.

To bring about the rapid transformative change needed to address the global sustainability crises, a paradigm shift is needed, characterized by more sustainable beliefs and attitudes. Therefore, this thesis explores the potentials of an escape game intervention as a new strategy to promote sustainable attitudes and beliefs in players, focusing on environmental sustainability. Firstly, a framework was created with Five Pillars for a successful environmental escape game: Fun, Experiential, Urgent, Problem-Rewarding and Social. Afterwards, this Five Pillars Framework guided the design and evaluation of an Environmental escape game called “Unlock the Future”. Based on the framework, an escape game with the Five Pillars was expected to increase players’ environmental attitudes and efficacy beliefs. To test this assumption, pre- and post-survey data was gathered from nine teams who played the escape game, using validated scales for environmental attitude, self-efficacy and collective efficacy, as well as an adapted version of the Game User Experience Satisfaction Scale. The survey results confirmed that all Five Pillars were present in the escape game design, and as a result players’ environmental self-efficacy and collective efficacy increased after playing the game. However, this effect was not present for players’ environmental attitude, nor for participants that were game hosts, or failed at the escape game.

The marine conservation organization Sea Shepherd is most known for its radical direct action, e. g., against whale poaching. This thesis examines the campaign “Operation Dolphin Bycatch,” coordinated by the French branch of the NGO, through discourse analysis and interviews with Sea Shepherd France (SSF) members. Dolphins serve as the flagship species of the campaign. They allow SSF to criticize non-selective fishing methods that cause the accidental killing of dolphins in the Bay of Biscay. With expressions from war and religion, SSF portrays the French government and most fishermen as enemies of the dolphins’ wellbeing that pursue self-interested profit values. It is found that SSF positions itself as radical more in its worldview than its approaches. The ecological philosophy of biocentrism contradicts the anthropocentrism that dominates society. In this campaign, the NGO uses “outsider” tactics: It exerts pressure on French policy-makers with footage of dolphin bycatch and takes great care to maintain international legitimacy by staying within legal boundaries. / L’organisation de conservation du milieu marin Sea Shepherd est surtout connue pour ses méthodes d’action directe radicale, par exemple contre le braconnage des baleines. Ce mémoire de master examine la campagne « Opération Dolphin Bycatch », qui est coordonnée par la branche française de l’ONG, à travers une analyse multimodale du discours et des entretiens avec des bénévoles de Sea Shepherd France (SSF). Les dauphins sont l’espèce porte-drapeau de la campagne. Ils permettent ainsi à SSF de critiquer les méthodes de pêche non sélectives qui provoquent la mort accidentelle de dauphins dans le Golfe de Gascogne. Avec des expressions provenant des champs lexicaux de la guerre et de la religion, SSF dépeint le gouvernement français et la plupart des pêcheurs comme poursuivant des valeurs lucratives égoïstes à l’encontre du bien-être des dauphins. Il s’avère que SSF se positionne comme radicale dans sa vision du monde plus que dans ses approches. Sa philosophie biocentrée de l’environnement contredit l’anthropocentrisme qui domine la société. Dans cette campagne, l’ONG utilise des tactiques « extérieures », c’est-à-dire qu’elle exerce une pression sur les décideurs politiques français avec des images de prises accessoires de dauphins et prend soin de maintenir une légitimité internationale en restant dans un cadre légal. / Die Meeresschutzorganisation Sea Shepherd ist vor allem für ihre radikalen „Direct Action“-Methoden bekannt, beispielsweise gegen Wal-Wilderei. Diese Arbeit untersucht die Kampagne „Operation Dolphin Bycatch“, die vom französischen Zweig der NGO koordiniert wird, durch multimodale Diskursanalyse und Interviews mit Mitgliedern von Sea Shepherd Frankreich (SSF). Delfine dienen als Flaggschiff-Art der Kampagne. Sie ermöglichen es SSF, die nicht-selektiven Fischereimethoden zu kritisieren, die das versehentliche Töten von Delfinen im Golf von Biskaya verursachen. Mit Begriffen aus Krieg und Religion schreibt SSF der französischen Regierung und den meisten Fischerleuten eigennützige Profitinteressen zu und stellt sie als Feinde des Wohlergehens der Delfine dar. Es zeigt sich, dass SSF eher in ihrer Weltanschauung als in ihren Ansätzen eine radikale Position beansprucht. Ihre biozentrische Umwelt-Philosophie steht im Widerspruch zum Anthropozentrismus, der in der Gesellschaft vorherrscht. Bei dieser Kampagne bedient sich die NGO „Außenseiter“-Taktiken: Sie übt Druck auf französische Politiker*innen aus, indem sie Filmaufnahmen von Delfin-Beifang zeigt, und achtet durch das Einhalten gesetzlicher Vorgaben darauf, internationale Legitimität zu wahren.

Mikroplast är ett begrepp som förekommer allt mer frekvent i media och medför stor förvirring kring var det kommer ifrån och varför det är skadligt. Naturvårdsverket har listat de sju största faktorerna till emission av mikroplast i Sverige, där hushållstvätt av syntetfiber är en utav dem. Mikroplast är små plastfragment (1 nm- 5 mm) och härstammar inte bara från syntetfiber, utan från bland annat däckslitage, allmän nedskräpning och fiskeverktyg. Vid hushållstvätt sprids partiklarna via avloppsvattnet, genom reningsverk och hamnar till slut i havet där de drar till sig miljöfarliga kemikalier och skadar vattenlevande organismer. Den här studien utreder textilföretags miljökommunikation angående mikroplast gentemot kund samt vad det finns för råd och direktiv från organisationer och myndigheter för textilföretag att tillgå vid dess generering av mikroplast. Studiens ambition är att kunna förmedla samlade riktlinjer till textilföretag som kan appliceras till deras verksamhet. Studien stöds utav RISE IVF och MinShed projektet och kommer genomföras med hjälp av litteratur-, enkät-, och intervjustudier. Resultatet som tagits fram genom uppsatsen visar att textilföretag generellt inte kommunicerar mikroplast gentemot kund. Det här beror på den, än så länge, bristfällig forskning som finns tillgänglig angående emission av mikroplast. Textilföretag upplever att de inte har tillräckligt med information för att ta långsiktiga beslut som kan förbättra dess hantering av mikroplast. Avsaknaden av standardiserade testmetoder över hur mycket olika syntetfiber fäller är det som textilföretag upplever saknas. Resultatet visar också att organisationer och myndigheter överlag inte ger några råd och direktiv till specifikt textilföretag. Utifrån de resultat som presenteras från det underlag som grundat sig från litteratur-, enkät-, och intervjustudier, kan författarna dra slutsatsen att rapporten inte kommer bidra med rekommendationer till textilföretag. Författarna uppmanar till vidare forskning inom ämnet, främst angående utveckling av filter i tvättmaskiner, som skulle kunna hindra mikroplast att spridas ut i havsmiljön via avloppsvattnet. / Microplastic waste is something that is featured more and more frequently in media today. There is a lot of confusion, due to the focus in the media, on what microplastic waste actually is and in what way it is harmful to the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency has listed the seven biggest sources to microplastic shedding and it shows that household laundry of synthetic fibers is one of them. Microplastic waste, or microplastics, are small plastic fragments (1 nm- 5 mm) and originate not only from synthetic fibers, but from tire wear, general plastic waste and fishing tools. During household laundry, the synthetic fibers shed microplastic that travels through the wastewater and sewage treatment plants before it finally ends up in the ocean where they have the potential to attract hazardous chemicals and damage aquatic organisms.    This study examines textile companies environmental communication regarding microplastics towards their customer and what kind of guidelines different organizations, institutes and authorities offer to textile companies regarding their generation of microplastics. The ambition of the study is to gather overall guidelines to textile companies that can be applied to their businesses. The study is supported by RISE IVF and the MinShed project and has been accomplished by literature-, questionnaire-, and interview studies. The outcome of the study shows that textile companies generally do not communicate about microplastics to their customer. This is due to the, so far, inadequate research regarding microplastic shedding. Textile companies experience that they do not have enough information to make long-term decisions that can improve their microplastic management, since there is no standardized test methods for fabrics available. The result also shows that organizations and authorities generally do not provide guidelines specific to textile companies. Based on the result from the study, the writers will not accomplish to gather guidelines to textile companies regarding microplastic management. The writers request further research on microplastics, primarily regarding the development of filters in washing machines, which could prevent microplastics from spreading out into the marine environment via the wastewater.

<p>This dissertation used a qualitative and interpretive lens to explore visitor and staff perceptions of the mission and purpose of Glacier National Park and the National Park Service as well as the interpreted environmental state of this park. Through the use of online survey data and participant observations, this study provides a deeper understanding of how individuals inside of Glacier National Park view the potential for this park to succeed or fail with its mission as well as how environmental concerns are communicated to those within the park during the summer of 2019. Strategic environmental communication strategies are provided at the conclusion of this study in order to aid Glacier and the National Park Service in more efficiently educating their publics about their core goals and environmental management efforts.</p>

<p>Drawing from research on the halo effect and protected values, consumers’ adoption intentions and willingness to pay a premium for renewable energy were explored. A moderated mediation was tested through two-instance repeated-measures linear regressions in a behavioral experiment with an Amazon MTurk sample. Besides, non-parametric tests were also used to test moderations of protected values and consumers’ demographics. In line with the expected halo effect, the effects of the renewability of the energy sources on consumers’ adoption intentions were mediated through consumers’ perceived comfort. These mediation effects were stronger among consumers with high protected values compared to those with low protected values. The non-parametric tests revealed that people with protected values were also found reluctant to pay a premium price for fossil fuels. Future directions to study the relationship between the renewability of energy sources and consumers’ willingness to pay a premium considering consumers’ demographics are also discussed </p>

With an attempt to connect ecological sustainability to users in a fun and interactive way that can nudge them into reflection of their everyday actions, this design research project tries to answer the main research question: How might we use immersive experiences in virtual environments to nudge participants into reflection; specifically, on climate change and sustainable behaviour? The available context, both in terms of climate change and the opportunity that exists in the communication of it; along with the design tools and good practices available were studied. Different design methodologies were reviewed to formulate a personalised yet well-grounded method, that was followed in this project. Through the use of these methodologies, a concept and two versions of the prototype were developed using Unity. These versions were tested with participants for the impact, and the quantitative and qualitative data that was gathered from the testing were analysed using statistical and thematic methods, respectively. From the analysis of the data, it became clear that this was just one little step that opens up more extensive research in this area. It can be concluded that VR can be thought of as an empathy generator due to its almost-unreal ability to transport users into any virtual space and make it feel like they are there. This ability of VR must be exploited to raise public empathy by taking abstract environmental concepts and make them more visible and relatable to everybody.

African communities are among those most profoundly impacted by the climate crisis, even though they have contributed little to climate change (CDP, 2020). This crisis is especially felt by African youth, who are already disadvantaged and marginalized by political and economic conditions. Like elsewhere around the world, the existential threat of the climate crisis has led to a surge in youth-led climate activism in Africa. Nevertheless, less attention is paid to voices originating from the Global South, especially in Africa.This dissertation explores the plight of young African environmental activists in sub-Saharan nations by considering what strategies and tactics they have used to be seen and heard. To do so, it explores the challenges of communicating climate change, by asking how these young activists are attempting to use communication, information, and media tools to confront the region’s unfolding ecological crisis, educate the public, and challenge misconceptions about climate change while elaborating a social movement network across multiple African nations. To pursue this goal, it draws from African media studies (Madrid-Morales et al., 2021; Mano & Milton, 2021; Wasserman, 2018), media activism (Lim, 2018; Rodríguez, 2011), and ecological activism (T. Bosch, 2012; Fonseca & Castro, 2022; Gonzalez et al., 2021; O’Brien et al., 2018; Wolfe, 2008), to conduct a multi-sited ethnography of activists from eight African countries. The study is organized as case studies developed through a combination of in-depth interviews with the activists, analysis of the texts they have produced through digital platforms, and their relationships with their own communities as well as, more broadly, youth-centered climate activist networks emerging in the Global South and elsewhere. The findings indicate that African climate activists evolve through stages leading to their engagement. To speak for the environment and engage their audiences, they educate themselves and learn to creatively employ traditional and new media. In the process, they must also navigate a social and cultural landscape of racism, ageism, tokenism, and political repression through networking, self-care, and ingenuity. Their stories expand current understanding of eco-activism strategies and tactics, such as boycotts, public appearances, and disruptive social media virality, underscoring their place within ecological jeremiads that offer, in turn, new insights into the growing field of African Media Studies. / Media & Communication

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