ABSTRACT
This chapter is the second of the two empirical chapters. It presents an analysis of official risk communication about climate change at global (United Nations) and subnational levels (local authorities in the UK [Edinburgh] and Denmark [Aarhus]). The analyses take place against the backdrop of a literature review that explores the question of values as they relate to the representation of risks and the responsibilisation of publics in climate change communication, and relevant empirical analyses and approaches. The analyses show that the risks of climate change are often downplayed and even omitted in communication to publics, although they implicitly motivate the (responsible) actions that publics are summoned to perform. Values and local concerns are present in the construction of responsibilisation strategies evident in the local authority communication. In the UN and UK data, citizens are encouraged to responsibilise other citizens, local authorities and national governments.
