Media coverage of climate change and individual understanding of human/environment relations

The human behavioral and psychological component of climate change must be explored if we hope to address and counter many of the detrimental changes resulting from a changing climate. Previous research has demonstrated that perhaps many environmentally un-friendly behaviors in the West are due to an understanding of the natural environment as separate from the human cultural world. This study explores how different mass media coverage of the consequences of climate change may impact individuals' perceived relationship between humans and the natural environment, the importance of climate change relative to other global problems, as well as behavioral intentions towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Results suggest that the perceived relationship between humans and the natural world is likely deeply engrained and enduring, but that media messages may indeed work to increase the saliency of climate change.