ABSTRACT
This chapter first reviews the literature emanating from the most influential strands of environmental risk communication research, and focuses on how they relate to risk communication about the environment. Because mass media are so important in late industrial society, the chapter examines what impact mass media channels have on awareness and understanding of environmental risks. It provides a discussion of the similarities and differences between communication about environmental risk as a potential hazard to human health and as a potential hazard to the biosphere. The chapter also focuses on global warming/climate change that epitomizes environmental risk. Social factors play a prominent role in a person’s awareness of environmental risks. The development and refinement of metrics are critical to understanding how environmental risk is communicated generally, and how the media contribute to public understanding of environmental risk specifically. A person’s cognitive constructs, cultural norms, and interpersonal interactions all influence their perceptions about health and environmental risks.
