Constructions of Climate Change on the Radio and in Nepalese Lay Focus Groups

• Published in: Environmental communication Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 161 - 178
• Main Authors: Shrestha, Sangita, Burningham, Kate, Grant, Colin B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 03-04-2014
• Subjects: climate change; developing country; local constructions; Nepal; radio; Nepal
• ISSN: 1752-4032; 1752-4040
• DOI: 10.1080/17524032.2014.906480

To date analyses of media climate change constructions have mostly focused on coverage in western newspapers. Consideration of coverage in developing countries, and analyses of media constructions alongside local understandings of climate change are comparatively rare. This article provides an analysis of the construction of climate change on Nepalese radio and lay constructions of environment and climate change within the country. Data from a radio program and six focus groups are analyzed. Analysis of the radio program indicated that climate change was portrayed as a certain reality with national impacts caused by the actions of the West. While climate change dominated the radio headlines, in focus groups local environmental problems received far more attention. The paper aims to both inform directions for future climate change communication in Nepal and the wider research agenda.