Trust in climate science and climate scientists: A qualitative review
We review the three topics of relevance to climate science: The current state of trust, reasons for distrust, and how political engagement affects trust. We then draw on insights from social science research to recommend how climate communicators can become more trustworthy.
Abstract
Trust in climate science provides the foundation for evidence-based policymaking on climate change mitigation and adaptation and public perceptions of the urgency of climate change. Here we consider the possibility that lack of public trust in climate science and climate scientists may undermine the effectiveness of climate science communication. To this end, we narratively review three topics of relevance to climate science and climate scientists: 1) The current state of trust; 2) Reasons for distrust; 3) How political engagement affects trust. We then draw on insights from communication and behavioral science to recommend how climate change communicators can become more trustworthy.
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Please cite as: Cologna, V., Kotcher, J., Mede, N. G., Besley, J. C., Maibach, E., & Oreskes, N. Trust in climate science and climate scientists: A qualitative review. Preprint. doi: 10.31234/osf.io/hj2xk
Link to preprint: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/hj2xk
Summary on social media: Thread by Viktoria Cologna on X
Niels G. Mede
Science Communication Researcher
I am a Senior Research and Teaching Associate at the Department of Communication and Media Research (IKMZ) of the University of Zurich, where I also completed a PhD in communication studies. My work focuses on science communication, public opinion, populism, digital media, climate change communication, and survey methodology. In 2022 and 2023, I was a visiting researcher at the Department of Life Sciences Communication of the University of Wisconsin—Madison and the Oxford Internet Institute. In June 2024, I will join the Digital Media Research Centre of the Queensland University of Technology as a visiting scholar.