RTÉ Brainstorm – How media coverage shapes our opinion of climate change
Whitaker Institute members Dr Sinead Mellett and Dr Edel Doherty have co-authored a new piece on RTÉ Brainstorm. The article explores the way in which media coverage can shape our opinions of climate change.
How media coverage shapes our opinion of climate change
By Sinead Mellett, NUI Galway; Neide Areia, University of Coimbra; Edel Doherty, NUI Galway and Alexandre Tavares, University of Coimbra
Studies have revealed that Ireland is the worst performing country in Europe when it comes to taking action to combat climate change. According to a report by Germanwatch and the New Climate Institute (NCI), their 2018 Climate Change Performance Index, Ireland had fallen 28 places to 49th out of 56 countries ranked.
Agriculture contributes almost 90% of total N2O emissions, primarily owing to emissions from animal waste and nitrogen fertiliser usage. The lack of access to information in simple language, specific to the different type of farming sector, region and size of the farm, was evident in studies carried out in NUI Galway and one that acted as a perceived barrier to changing in line with climate change. Failing to get the communication across means that farmers cannot play a fundamental role that they are capable of. Continue reading…