1. Risk Communication Ortwin Renn University of Stuttgart And DIALOGIK gGmbH Ortwin Renn University of Stuttgart And DIALOGIK gGmbH

2. Part 1 Why Risk Communication? The Context of Risk Communication Why Risk Communication? The Context of Risk Communication

3. Objectives of Risk Communication Enlightenment: Making people able to understand risks and become “risk-literate” Behavioral changes: Making people aware of potential risks and help them to take protective actions Trust building: Assisting risk management agencies to generate and sustain trust Conflict resolution: Assisting risk managers to involve major stakeholders and affected parties to take part in the risk management process Enlightenment: Making people able to understand risks and become “risk-literate” Behavioral changes: Making people aware of potential risks and help them to take protective actions Trust building: Assisting risk management agencies to generate and sustain trust Conflict resolution: Assisting risk managers to involve major stakeholders and affected parties to take part in the risk management process

4. Relevance of Risk Communication Health and Safety are top concerns of people in industrial countries People demand more information and transparency on decisions that affect their welfare Trust in traditional decision makers is low and replaced by demand of participation Risk communication is legally demanded in many countries Health and Safety are top concerns of people in industrial countries People demand more information and transparency on decisions that affect their welfare Trust in traditional decision makers is low and replaced by demand of participation Risk communication is legally demanded in many countries

5. Important Contextual Aspects Types of audiences: Peripheral versus central Cultural subgroups: entrepreneurial, egalitarian, bureaucratic, individualistic Sociopolitical climate and style Adversarial, consensual, corporatist and fiduciary Levels of risk debates linear, complex, uncertain but uncontested risks, uncertain and ambiguous risks Types of audiences: Peripheral versus central Cultural subgroups: entrepreneurial, egalitarian, bureaucratic, individualistic Sociopolitical climate and style Adversarial, consensual, corporatist and fiduciary Levels of risk debates linear, complex, uncertain but uncontested risks, uncertain and ambiguous risks

6. Part 2 Some basics of communication

7. Some Major Insights from Research Risk communication starts with an excellent record of risk management Risk communicators need to specify in advance: Purpose of risk communication (orientation, behavioral advise, involvement) Level of risk debate (routine, uncertain but uncontested, highly contested) Types of audiences to be approached Available risk communication resources and channels Follow-up after the risk communication program is completed Design for evaluation Risk communication starts with an excellent record of risk management Risk communicators need to specify in advance: Purpose of risk communication (orientation, behavioral advise, involvement) Level of risk debate (routine, uncertain but uncontested, highly contested) Types of audiences to be approached Available risk communication resources and channels Follow-up after the risk communication program is completed Design for evaluation

8. Some Major Insights II Risk communication needs to address: Difference between risk and hazard Difference between random event and faulty behavior The process of risk management decision making The trade-offs and value conflicts when making risk management or regulatory decisions (incl. benefits) The meaning of standards and the respective protective goal behind them Trust and credibility cannot be “produced” or “manufactured” but only earned in terms of performance and effective communication Risk communication needs to address: Difference between risk and hazard Difference between random event and faulty behavior The process of risk management decision making The trade-offs and value conflicts when making risk management or regulatory decisions (incl. benefits) The meaning of standards and the respective protective goal behind them Trust and credibility cannot be “produced” or “manufactured” but only earned in terms of performance and effective communication

9. Communication Needs of Targeted Audiences Regulators: risk management options; experts assessments; input from stakeholders and the public about their preferences Experts: data base; treatment of uncertainty: rationale for risk evaluations Industry: performance data, expert judgments; liability issues; regulatory actions Environmental groups: data on hazards, performance records of users; case studies; issues of equity and env. justice Regulators: risk management options; experts assessments; input from stakeholders and the public about their preferences Experts: data base; treatment of uncertainty: rationale for risk evaluations Industry: performance data, expert judgments; liability issues; regulatory actions Environmental groups: data on hazards, performance records of users; case studies; issues of equity and env. justice

10. Communication Needs of the Media and the Public Media: events; signs of dissent and conflict, link to human (mis)behavior Consumers: hazard information; personal risks, link to personal interests and values Bystanders: issues of fairness and equity; link to societal values and visions; signs of blame and guilt Media: events; signs of dissent and conflict, link to human (mis)behavior Consumers: hazard information; personal risks, link to personal interests and values Bystanders: issues of fairness and equity; link to societal values and visions; signs of blame and guilt

11. Summary Risk communication serves the needs of enlightenment, behavioral advise; trust building and conflict resolution Risk communication needs to address: complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity There is no recipe book, but good advise available to improving risk communication Risk communication must be sensitive to context, audience and topic Risk communication is a necessary complement to both risk assessment and management Risk communication serves the needs of enlightenment, behavioral advise; trust building and conflict resolution Risk communication needs to address: complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity There is no recipe book, but good advise available to improving risk communication Risk communication must be sensitive to context, audience and topic Risk communication is a necessary complement to both risk assessment and management