Communicating well on climate change is an essential skill in our current world. If we are able to mobilise people to take climate action, we can accomplish the transformational change that’s so urgently needed.
This microcredential turns decades of research on effective climate change communication into useable strategies you can implement in professional and personal settings.
Guided by the experts at Deakin University, you’ll develop an advanced and practical understanding of the challenges we face in translating the problem of climate change for diverse audiences – and how we might address these challenges through better communication.
Develop best-practice climate communication resources you can use in your context
To help you develop practical skills, you’ll produce climate communication outputs for an assessment and gain expert advice and research-based learning from the unit teaching team.
This exercise will ensure you finish the microcredential with concrete, best-practice climate communication work which you can use in real-world settings.
Understand the basics of climate science
Learning the fundamentals of climate change is key in helping you to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively.
With contributions from an award-winning climate scientist, you’ll learn the basics of climate science to help you become climate literate.
With this understanding, you’ll then explore the role of communication in climate change response and how you can help to communicate the urgency of the climate crisis.
Delve into the human psychology behind communicating climate change
To help you understand why communicating climate change is so challenging, you’ll delve into human psychology and the concept of a ‘wicked problem’.
You’ll learn that because climate change is often invisible, complex, and ultimately, bad news it is difficult for people to engage with the topic. Through this exploration, you’ll learn how to overcome these challenges through techniques that will help you better understand your audience.
Develop your communication skills to inspire climate action
Finally, you’ll hone your communication skills to ensure better climate communication. Unpacking decades of research, you’ll learn the best practices for working with people to effectively communicate the urgency of climate action.
You’ll explore examples of where climate change communication is happening now, such as the media and social media, to understand where and how you can retrieve your information.
By the end, you’ll have the skills to inspire people to engage more effectively with climate change and take urgent action to combat its impacts.
How will this microcredential help my career?
Every professional role now needs to consider climate change in decision-making – meaning that many people now encounter the need to be effective climate communicators at work. This microcredential will enhance your existing professional capacity by upskilling you in best-practice climate communication.
The microcredential equally delivers the understanding and skills needed to set you on a new career path in communicating climate change.
Will I receive university credits?
This microcredential will not only give you the knowledge and skills to communicate climate change effectively, it also gives you 0.5 credit points towards a longer postgraduate degree at Deakin university.
You’ll receive a statement of completion from FutureLearn and a digital certificate from Deakin University.
How will I be assessed?
You’ll produce up to two pieces of best-practice climate communication, using principles learned in the microcredential. The assessment submission should address a current climate impact, mitigation strategy, or adaptation pathway. You can choose your own preferred medium and style for this part of the assessment.
You’ll also submit a short essay explaining:  the intended audience (and how this affects the choice of communication medium), the choice of climate change communication type, and discuss why these strategies are appropriate to the audience.
