Speakers
Description
This study examines how citizens access, interpret, and evaluate climate change (CC) information in a media environment shaped by information overload, misinformation, and fragmented news consumption. The aim was to identify the information sources, trust criteria, and climate narratives that influence public understanding of CC. The research employed a qualitative approach based on a citizen consultation in Spain, in September 2025. 118 participants took part in 15 discussion groups. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, anonymized, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis and a hermeneutic approach. The findings reveal a passive relationship with climate information, incidental news consumption, central role of social media platforms, and perceptions of information overload. Although scientists and experts were regarded as trustworthy sources, participants expressed fragmented trust patterns and skepticism toward political actors and news media. CC was commonly understood through personal experiences and extreme weather events. Feelings of disaffection, powerlessness, and confusion regarding the effectiveness actions were also widespread, often linked to concerns about misinformation and contradictory information. In conclusion, public understanding of CC emerges from the interaction between everyday experiences and a hybrid communication environment. The results highlight the need for strategies that strengthen trust, counter misinformation, and encourage meaningful citizen engagement in sustainability transitions.
| Presenting author | Ana Serra-Perales; Lorena Cano-Orón |
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