Module manager: Chris Paterson
Email: C.Paterson@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2023/24
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module will address themes and theory relevant to climate communication including conceptual and historical contexts, political and social dimensions of climate change and climate change denial, the relationship between media and climate change, environmental movements and campaigns, and science and risk communication. As Climate Change is increasingly accepted as the existential threat of the modern era, there is a pressing need for students to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to communicate about it.
This module is designed to make students better consumers, critics, investigators, and producers of climate and environmental communication. The module raises student awareness of climate change issues, concerns, and concepts and how they are conveyed in the UK and around the world.
The following questions guide learning in the module:
-What is climate communication?
-How do people communicate and think about climate change?
-How can messages about climate change and the environment be crafted to change people’s attitudes and behavior?
-Why is climate communication important?
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. explain and critique key theories, approaches and debates in the field of climate communication
2. analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of climate communications across a range of media genres
3. critically assess variations in the political, economic and social/cultural aspects of climate communications across nations and regions
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Advanced communications skills – the ability to interpret and communicate information about climate change effectively.
5. Ethical proficiency – the ability to recognise ethical considerations in climate change communication including issues related to accuracy, transparency, and social justice
6. Independent research skills – the ability to plan, research and execute a critical research project in the field of climate communication
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 280 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Students will be encouraged to meet individually with the teaching team (tutor, TA, guest tutors) to discuss their approach to both assignments. Students are required to submit a formative 200 word proposal to the module leader for feedback on their final research project proposal. Students indicating a need for further support at this stage will be guided to TA and tutor office hours and in-school language centre support in paper development, if appropriate. Seminar discussions will encourage student engagement and allow the teaching team to continually assess individual engagement and understanding of key concepts.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 X 3500 – 4000 word essay | 70 |
| Critique | A critical analysis of a media artefact from the perspective of climate change emergency (equivalent to 1500-2000 word essay) | 30 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 12/05/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team