Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric Sep 2016 Open Access

Communicating Climate Change to Religious and Conservative Audiences: The Case of Katharine Hayhoe and Andrew Farley

Doug Cloud

Abstract

Recent research suggests that climate change is a “tribal” issue. That is, some audiences deny the reality of anthropogenic climate change because of their group identities, not because they misunderstand the science. In this essay, I offer a case study of two Christian climate science communicators and their efforts to persuade religious and conservative audiences who are skeptical of the need to respond to climate change. I analyze three of their rhetorical moves that may be of interest to those who teach and practice public rhetoric. As I analyze these moves, I consider both their persuasive potential and tradeoffs.

Journal
Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric
Published
2016-09-01
DOI
10.59236/rjv16i1pp57-74
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Topics
rhetorical criticism qualitative research public rhetoric
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