Abstract

Public engagement with climate change is crucial for the success of policies and actions in response to climate change. Though, media have the potential to shape public opinion and attitudes towards climate change, the complexity of the issue and the psychology of human behaviour make the mere information and communication be ineffective in such endeavour. Thus, interactive and participatory approaches to communication promise better individual and public reception. This paper systematically reviews the empirical literature on interactive and participatory media for climate change engagement to examine and synthesize the effects of interactive and participatory media on cognitive, emotional, and behavioural engagement, and the existing challenges. A research agenda to fill the gaps in the area of interactive and participatory media is proposed and an integrative model of how media can engage the individual and public with climate change is introduced. The research in this area is multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary and there are also many fields of practice that are involved: media and communication, information systems, visualization and computer science, environmental technology, education. To progress steadily with engaging the public with climate change, researchers and practitioners in the relevant fields should address the existing challenges and gaps. The model of public engagement proposed in the paper could furnish interested stakeholders with a reflective and practical device in this respect. One crucial objective for the future is to empower the individuals and the public as collective entity to act with knowledge, skills, and responsibility towards a sustainable world.