A Three-Pillar Model for Climate Engagement: Narrative, Reform, Participation

Despite the mounting urgency of the climate crisis, environmental science continues to face a persistent challenge: how to translate knowledge into meaningful public action. This article takes as its point of departure Jane Lubchenco’s influential call for a “new social contract” between science and society—a vision that has evolved over the past two decades in response to political, communicative, and institutional barriers. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature across environmental communication, cognitive psychology, climate policy, and science and technology studies, this article offers a conceptual synthesis of why environmental science struggles to connect with diverse publics despite increased public awareness and growing volumes of data. This article proposes a new three-pillar model for science-society engagement, comprising (1) Narrative Framing, (2) Institutional Reform, and (3) Participatory Practice. Each pillar is grounded in empirical research and illustrated through case studies such as the Global Narratives of Climate Change project in India. Rather than advancing new empirical findings, the article develops an integrative framework for practice and institutional change. It argues that effective environmental communication requires more than accurate data or improved delivery mechanisms—it demands emotional resonance, cultural fluency, ethical reflexivity, and structural reform. The article also contributes to the environmental humanities by engaging with the politics of expertise, the affective dimensions of knowledge, and the ethical demands of planetary crises. It concludes by outlining pathways for future research, policy reform, and curricular transformation aimed at reshaping environmental science as a civic, participatory, and justice-oriented endeavor.