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February 2021 – July 2023
The research and development project “Adequately communicating health-related risks from the environment – What needs to be considered?” is funded by the Federal Environment Agency from the Federal Environment Ministry’s departmental research plan.
Daniela Lorenz
daniela.lorenz[at]agrathaer.de
033432/82-203
Project information
Risk communication is the communication of risks and hazards. The aim is to create risk awareness and a corresponding understanding of risks in order to reduce risky behavior and create risk-minimizing behavior and social awareness.
An organization’s communication must be constantly reconsidered and optimized because the communication formats used by the target groups change and new findings emerge in risk communication research. Particular challenges arise for risk communication when unexpected topics are to be communicated on which there is not yet much or contradictory information. Even very complex topics, such as climate change and its effects, are unwieldy topics that need to be explained briefly and concisely in order to reach the target group in today’s information overload.
In order to ensure a successful transfer of scientific knowledge to the recipients of communication, a focused, target group-specific orientation of the communication measures is essential.
We support the client, the Federal Environment Agency, in the reorientation of risk communication in its organization. In particular, this involves the official communication of health-related environmental issues. By analyzing risk communication research and the existing communication channels and structures in national or international authorities for environmental and health protection, we get a picture of the existing situation. The so-called “good-practice examples”, where risk communication has worked particularly well, are also interesting. Examples of new communication formats from industry or non-governmental organizations, which have hardly been used in official practice to date, are also included.
The results of the analysis phase will be presented to a broad audience at a symposium. At this point, we want to initiate an exchange between scientists, communication experts and representatives from official practice in which the research results and practical experience can be discussed. At the end of the project, the Federal Environment Agency will receive concrete recommendations for action from all the information collected, which will enable a reorientation or optimization of risk communication in the authorities.