Storying Climate Change

Iceland

Perceptions of Climate Change 

Iceland

Scientific research is often prioritized over social research in climate change studies. Personal stories convey perceived vulnerabilities, adaptations and resiliencies while discerning societal influences. To better understand climate change perceptions, we collected stories of environmental changes from lifelong residents of Iceland. We conducted in-depth interviews with residents in four locations of interest. Stories from residents supported the climate change indicators researched by experts. Overall, Icelanders did not feel vulnerable to environmental changes but did worry for future generations. We also produced a documentary to share the stories. Future climate change perception studies should consider societal implications to gain a more holistic view of climate change impacts.

Faculty Advisors: Melissa Belz

Student Researchers: Benjamin Merritt Seibert, James P. McClung, Matthew Robert Jalbert, Phoebe Yung

Related Links

The Climate Stories Project

Climate Stories Project gives a voice to the emotional and personal impacts that climate change is having on our lives and to the positive actions we are taking in response. Often, we discuss climate change only from the impersonal perspective of science or the contentious realm of politics. Today, though, more and more of us are feeling the effects of climate change on a personal and community level. Climate Stories Project allows people from around the world to share their stories and to engage with climate change in a direct way.

 

Story Group

Based in Boulder, Colorado, The Story Group produces compelling multimedia journalism. Founders Ted Wood and Daniel Glick each have more than 25 years of experience in print and electronic media. We work in partnership with top videographers and editors to produce stories for broadcast, print and Internet outlets. We specialize in finding compelling ways to present the issues of our day to a wide variety of audiences through multimedia storytelling and new media. Our combined experience in environmental journalism and new media productions helps us — and our clients — to get stories out like never before.

I See Change

ISeeChange is a global community that posts about what they notice changing in the environment using our platform and mobile tools. Each post is synced with weather and climate data and broadcast to the community to investigate bigger picture climate trends. Over time, community members can track how climate is changing, season to season, year to year, and understand the impacts on daily life.