Work

Climate change engagement of scientists

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Climate change is one of the biggest threats to humanity. Scientists are well-positioned to help address it beyond conducting academic research, yet little is known about their wider engagement with the topic. We investigate scientists’ engagement with climate change using quantitative and qualitative analyses of a large-scale survey (N = 9,220) across 115 countries, all fields, and all career stages. Many scientists already engage in individual lifestyle changes, but fewer engage in advocacy or activism. Based on our quantitative and qualitative results, we propose a two-step model of engagement to better understand why. Scientists must first overcome intellectual and practical barriers to be willing to engage, and then different barriers to actually engage. Based on this model, we provide concrete recommendations for increasing scientists’ engagement with climate change.

Source: Nature Climate Change

DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02091-2