A deafening silence The decline of climate change communication in Spain 2008-2012

Three polls carried out in 2008, 2010 and 2012 explored media consumption and sources used by Spaniards to receive information on climate change issues. These polls revealed a sharp drop in the amount of information received both through personal conversations and the media. Studies carried out by different researchers concluded that media coverage of climate change declined in the studied period. We also found less activity in climate change communication by key sources such as political parties, a decrease in web searches using the terms "climate change" or "global warming" and a reduction in attendance to events such as exhibitions or lectures. Data suggest that a growing number of Spaniards chosed not to talk and not to listen; not to write and not to read; not to know about climate change. Considering the mentioned data, this paper describes "climate silence" and suggests links to social representations of climate change.