A Rhetorical Investigation of Public Disbelief in Climate Science
Issue Date
2012-12-31Author
Bricker, Brett Jacob
Publisher
University of Kansas
Format
187 pages
Type
Dissertation
Degree Level
Ph.D.
Discipline
Communication Studies
Rights
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Global warming and climate change pose a significant threat to the livelihoods of future generations. Although there is a consensus of qualified climate scientists who believe that scientific evidence supports Anthropogenic Climate Change [ACC] theories, public belief in ACC theories has been much more limited. In this dissertation, I argue that this disjunction between climate scientists and public opinion is a fundamentally rhetorical problem, requiring rhetorical solutions. In four case studies, I analyze the Climategate scandal, discursive strategies of the Heartland Institute, President Obama's environmental arguments and the ozone debates of the 1970s and 1980s to develop a set of persuasive strategies that may help environmental advocates overcome public disbelief in climate science.
Collections
Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.
We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.