Bridging perspectives: Citizen perceptions of municipal climate communication and local climate action

Morten Ploug Henriksen; Anette Grønning

doi:10.7146/mk.v41i79.152899

Authors

Morten Ploug Henriksen University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Anette Grønning University of Southern Denmark, Denmark https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5782-9739

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7146/mk.v41i79.152899

Keywords:

Climate communication, Municipalities, Segmentation, Communication strategies, Climate behavior

Abstract

This article explores how citizens perceive and respond to municipal climate communication in Denmark, with particular attention to audience segmentation and different attitudes towards climate communication. We applied a qualitative thematic analysis and identified four themes – Everyday life, Attitudes towards green transition, Consequences for daily life, and Communication from the municipality, which we used to investigate personal, social, and institutional dimensions of climate-related behaviors. Data were generated through interviews with and observation of individuals representing various demographic groups, which allowed us to compare citizen responses to municipal climate communication with the audience segmentation framework outlined in Maibach et al.’s (2009) Six Americas model. Building upon this framework, we introduced Six Danes, a Danish adaptation that reflects local political, socio-economic, and cultural dimensions. Our findings highlight gaps in municipal communication and suggest ways to tailor communication to different citizen segments.

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Bridging perspectives

Citizen perceptions of municipal climate communication and local climate action

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