Gus Vogel

What communication strategies do corporations use to shape the climate change narrative?

Started June 10, 2024

Abstract or project description

In current American society, already plagued by the early effects of climate change, the growing concern for sustainability has sparked numerous movements and campaigns against this ongoing crisis. Although many individuals care deeply about this pressing issue, large corporations greatly influence the current sustainability models that dominate current environmental action. Big corporations can easily shape current society because many people rely on their services for everyday necessities, giving them immense visibility and credibility. Large corporations are some of the biggest perpetrators and perpetuators of the climate crisis, emitting monstrous amounts of greenhouse gasses. However, many of these corporations can avoid backlash through diversion tactics, false advertisements, and integration within popular culture. By using these methods, these corporations can control the climate narrative to continue their polluting systems, leading to greenwashing, misleading corporate social responsibility models, and shifting the blame for climate change onto individuals. Large corporations have conflated the idea of sustainability with their corporate greed, leading to a lack of real sustainable progress. This paper explores these communication tactics to better understand the current American culture surrounding the climate crisis. Additionally, this paper also proposes initiatives needed to reach purely truthful sustainability.