{"id":26248,"date":"2025-11-03T09:28:34","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/?p=26248"},"modified":"2025-11-03T09:28:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:28:35","slug":"raising-climate-literacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/archives\/2025\/11\/raising-climate-literacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Raising Climate Literacy"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\n

Guest commentary by Figen Mekik<\/a><\/em><\/sm><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate change has become\u00a0\u201cthat\u201d topic \u2013 like evolution of species, plate tectonics, or AI where\u00a0the\u00a0public has heard so much about it that many think\u00a0they know everything they need to know<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 Such\u00a0confidence\u00a0can be both a good and\u00a0bad thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The upside is\u00a0that the biggest global societal problem of our time, climate\u00a0change,\u00a0has become a part of the broader culture.\u00a0The vast majority of the world<\/a><\/span>\u00a0agrees that something must be done to mitigate global warming – 69% of the world population is willing to contribute 1% of their income to climate mitigation,\u00a0and 89% demand climate action from their governments and politicians.\u00a062% of Americans<\/a>\u00a0feel\u00a0a\u00a0personal duty to reduce the effects of climate change.\u00a0 However, the downside is that most lack a sufficient foundation in the science of climate change which creates misconceptions, a lack of ability to discern pseudoscience, and an ill-founded surety about the realities of\u00a0global warming.\u00a0\u00a0 Misconceptions<\/a><\/span>\u00a0get\u00a0in the way of understanding the science behind the predictions of climate change to the point where mitigation efforts are derailed or stalled.\u00a0The consequence is that\u00a0anthropogenic\u00a0climate change,\u00a0a phrase\u00a0used to describe\u00a0the change in climate attributable\u00a0to\u00a0human activity,\u00a0becomes a political \u201cbelief\u201d rather than accepted as scientific discourse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S.\u00a0is among the most politically divided countries about anthropogenic\u00a0climate change.\u00a0Despite\u00a061%\u00a0of Americans<\/a>\u00a0regarding\u00a0the scientific evidence supporting a warming Earth as solid,\u00a0the current administration has successfully and systematically defunded most\u00a0of its institutions providing the most scientifically sound information and educational materials about climate change. The damage to NASA, NOAA,\u00a0NIH,\u00a0and EPA is profound and is threatening the exalted status of the U.S.\u00a0as a global leader in scientific research.\u00a0Such\u00a0misguidedness\u00a0stems in part\u00a0from\u00a0\u201cThe vast majority of the world<\/a><\/span>”\u00a0(the tendency of individuals to underestimate the willingness of others to\u00a0want to mitigate climate change),\u00a0and in\u00a0greater\u00a0part from\u00a0\u201cclimate\u00a0modeling\u00a0ignorance.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the\u00a0most pernicious misconceptions<\/a><\/span>\u00a0about climate change\u00a0is\u00a0the idea<\/a><\/span>\u00a0that climate models make projections for the next 100 years by simply extrapolating the globally averaged changes in weather patterns over the last 40 – 50 years into the future. This is an important misconception to correct because it goes to the core of the credibility of climate models in the mind of lay people who make political decisions about mitigating\u00a0hazards of\u00a0anthropogenic climate change.\u00a0\u00a0This misconception is an outgrowth from another one – that weather and climate are the same thing<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Many lay people do not realize that both regional and\u00a0\u00a0global climate is determined by many factors beyond atmospheric chemistry and dynamics, including\u00a0(but not limited to)\u00a0ocean circulation,\u00a0the\u00a0thermal properties of\u00a0both\u00a0seawater\u00a0and ice,\u00a0the\u00a0extent\u00a0and volume\u00a0of ice cover as well as\u00a0Earth\u2019s orbital parameters\u00a0\u2013\u00a0are\u00a0all part and parcel of climate models<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Schematic illustrating fields and topics contributing to creation, modification, and usage of climate models. Contributing topics and fields\u00a0are\u00a0not exhaustive<\/em>!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

For example, \u201cwill it snow tomorrow?\u201d is a ‘weather’ question, while \u201chow do El Ni\u00f1o events in the tropical Pacific Ocean affect winters in West Michigan?\u201d is a climate question. This distinction matters for making decisions about mitigating climate change because it fosters the understanding that teleconnections affect both global and regional climate, and that a persistent change related to global warming in the natural cyclicity of a distant interaction between ocean and atmosphere\u00a0(El Ni\u00f1o in the tropical Pacific)\u00a0can change what to expect in West Michigan in the next 50 or 100 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another pervasive misconception is the\u00a0confusion of Environmental Science with Climate Science<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Two big questions arise: \u201cwhat can a climatologist do that an environmental scientist cannot?\u201d and \u201cwhy does developing Climate Science programs\u00a0in colleges\u00a0distinct from environmental science matter for the lay person, the broader public?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nationally,\u00a0while both Environmental Science and Climate Science programs are broadly
multidisciplinary and interrelated, they have\u00a0important differences.\u00a0Climate Science\u00a0is a physical science\u00a0focusing\u00a0on the causes, direct effects, and changes in climate through all of Earth\u2019s history including the Anthropocene\u00a0(the \u201cHuman Era\u201d)\u00a0through computational\u00a0models\u00a0involving the chemistry and\u00a0physics of climate change; while\u00a0Environmental\u00a0Science\u00a0is a natural science\u00a0broadly involving\u00a0ecology, microbiology, soil science, conservation, restoration, natural resource management, entomology, pollution, water quality,\u00a0and similar.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, pollution of a river system is a massive environmental problem. So is\u00a0recycling\u00a0waste. But neither are problems\u00a0directly related\u00a0to climate change. Similarly, availability of food or clean water is a sustainability question related more to human population growth, economics, politics, and environmental change than climate change; though of course the greater the human population, the greater the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted to the atmosphere which leads to climate warming.\u00a0\u00a0 So, climate change affects and informs environmental change and\u00a0sustainability but\u00a0is only one aspect of those fields. The change in duration of the annual growth season or warmer temperatures shifting to higher latitudes will affect\u00a0availability\u00a0of food and water \u2013 these are sustainability issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, only a handful of colleges and universities across the United States have developed college majors specifically in Climate Science, most recently Grand Valley State University<\/a>.\u00a0 However, academic programs specifically dedicated to Climate System Science\u00a0are\u00a0a new national trend \u2013 so new in fact that it is difficult to find information about the number of students enrolled or graduates produced annually nationwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What has this got to do with \u201cclimate modeling ignorance\u201d? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating academic programs specifically focused on Climate System Science with a bend toward climate modeling is crucial at these times of swift and dangerous climate change. Lay people (the voting public) need to better understand the scientific basis for the causes and predictions related to anthropogenic climate change so humanity can make better informed decisions about mitigation efforts.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone can dedicate resources and time to\u00a0majoring\u00a0in Climate Science but\u00a0growing a population of well-educated climate scientists will help\u00a0create a more climate literate public. Individuals specialized in climate system science who understand the strengths and uncertainties associated with climate modeling can inform the broader public about anthropogenic climate change and more effective ways of countering and preventing its hazardous effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Communications\u00a0major minoring\u00a0in Climate Science may pursue a career as a climate journalist or spokesperson.\u202fIn essence, a\u00a0student minoring or majoring in Climate Science becomes a person who fosters climate literacy in their communities.\u00a0According to the\u00a0Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a>, the average salary for climatologists is $94,570 annually, there were\u00a010,500 people\u00a0employed as climatologists in 2020, and the projected growth rate for climatologist jobs between 2020 and 2030 is 8%.\u00a0\u00a0According to ZipRecruiter, the average earnings for a climate scientist or climate change specialist is $111,343.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In summary, degrees in Climate Science and Environmental Science are distinct from one another\u00a0by content and by job prospects they offer.\u00a0The job prospects for climate scientists are\u00a0numerous\u00a0and varied because climatologists are urgently needed in a world where climate is changing fast and\u00a0often times\u00a0unpredictably.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

References<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. <\/a>\nM.S. McCaffrey, and S.M. Buhr, \"Clarifying Climate Confusion: Addressing Systemic Holes, Cognitive Gaps, and Misconceptions Through Climate Literacy\", Physical Geography<\/i>, vol. 29, pp. 512-528, 2008. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.2747\/0272-3646.29.6.512<\/a>\n\n\n<\/li>\n
  2. <\/a>\nP. Andre, T. Boneva, F. Chopra, and A. Falk, \"Globally representative evidence on the actual and perceived support for climate action\", Nature Climate Change<\/i>, vol. 14, pp. 253-259, 2024. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1038\/s41558-024-01925-3<\/a>\n\n\n<\/li>\n
  3. <\/a>\nA. Ziegler, \"Political orientation, environmental values, and climate change beliefs and attitudes: An empirical cross country analysis\", Energy Economics<\/i>, vol. 63, pp. 144-153, 2017. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.eneco.2017.01.022<\/a>\n\n\n<\/li>\n
  4. <\/a>\nF. Lehner, and T.F. Stocker, \"From local perception to global perspective\", Nature Climate Change<\/i>, vol. 5, pp. 731-734, 2015. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1038\/nclimate2660<\/a>\n\n\n<\/li>\n
  5. <\/a>\nM. Maslin, and P. Austin, \"Climate models at their limit?\", Nature<\/i>, vol. 486, pp. 183-184, 2012. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1038\/486183a<\/a>\n\n\n<\/li>\n
  6. <\/a>\nD. Lombardi, and G.M. Sinatra, \"College Students\u2019 Perceptions About the Plausibility of Human-Induced Climate Change\", Research in Science Education<\/i>, vol. 42, pp. 201-217, 2010. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1007\/s11165-010-9196-z<\/a>\n\n\n<\/li>\n
  7. <\/a>\nW. Fleming, A.L. Hayes, K.M. Crosman, and A. Bostrom, \"Indiscriminate, Irrelevant, and Sometimes Wrong: Causal Misconceptions about Climate Change\", Risk Analysis<\/i>, vol. 41, pp. 157-178, 2020. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1111\/risa.13587<\/a>\n\n\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Guest commentary by Figen Mekik Climate change has become\u00a0\u201cthat\u201d topic \u2013 like evolution of species, plate tectonics, or AI where\u00a0the\u00a0public has heard so much about it that many think\u00a0.\u00a0 Such\u00a0confidence\u00a0can be both a good and\u00a0bad thing.\u00a0 The upside is\u00a0that the biggest global societal problem of our time, climate\u00a0change,\u00a0has become a part of the broader culture.\u00a0\u00a0agrees that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":26250,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,1,35,27,75,23],"tags":[184,185],"class_list":{"0":"post-26248","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-climate-modelling","8":"category-climate-science","9":"category-communicating-climate","10":"category-el-nino","11":"category-featured-story","12":"category-ipcc","13":"tag-climate-literacy","14":"tag-education","15":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26248"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26251,"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26248\/revisions\/26251"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realclimate.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}