ICTs in Climate Change Communication in the Pacific Islands

Abstract

Community participation is essential to effectively address communities’ needs in relation to climate change. Conventional media forms that are easily accessible in the Pacific Islands region, including digital media, require strategic integration of both message creation and dissemination with stakeholder inclusion. This article argues that use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) not only enables information dissemination, but also invites local participation in communicative processes. Greater citizen engagement in content creation improves community understanding of the issues around climate change by including local perspectives, cultural knowledge, and concerns specific to the area. Recording, sharing, and discussing these changes in community settings will inform new thinking, with the potential to change perceptions and attitudes toward this urgent problem.