What does it mean to be climate literate?
Understanding the basics of climate science and being able to talk to others about climate change is an important part of taking action on the issue, which has been described as the greatest challenge of our time.
News services, websites and social media are full of headlines and posts about the climate and climate change. Most of us have a general sense of what these terms mean, but how much do we really understand about the causes and effects, the science behind what’s happening, and the policies and solutions being developed to tackle the problem?
How many of us are really ‘climate literate’?
Being climate literate is simply another way of saying there’s an understanding of the basic concepts of Earth’s climate, how it’s changing and the reasons why. Having this knowledge is critical in driving positive climate action, as it means each of us clearly understands how our everyday activities have an impact on the planet, and how we can make a positive difference. This is especially important when judging the actions of policy makers and businesses. Do we agree with responses? Are they happening quickly enough? What are the trade offs? And how can we influence others?
Having an understanding of the science behind climate change further supports our climate literacy, as well as:
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being able to critically assess information about the climate;
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being able to communicate about climate change in a clear and accurate way; and
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being able to think about causation and the sometimes-complicated relationships between different factors, such as the link between rising temperatures and worsening snow storms.
The climate knowledge gap
There is some evidence that we overestimate our climate literacy. A global survey by Vice, for example, shows that while 67% of adults claim they have a good understanding of climate change terms, only 41% of those adults could choose the best definitions of those terms. Similarly, a report published by Allianz Research reveals that only 14% of respondents were able to answer at least seven out of 10 climate questions correctly.
This trend extends beyond climate science itself. Research undertaken by Ipsos ahead of Earth Day in 2022 shows that only half (52%) of respondents had heard about the climate commitments made by their country, while only 27% had heard of COP – the world’s largest global climate summit, which takes place every year.
Improving climate literacy
It is important that everyone takes steps to understand the basics, and to stay informed. A good starting point is :
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Getting climate news from reputable sources, such as the United Nations (see What is Climate Change below);
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Talking to others about climate matters and sharing accurate information;
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Encouraging others (especially young people, who will face the greatest consequences of climate change) to get interested in climate news; and
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Making everyday decisions based on this climate understanding.
To achieve this it’s not necessary to become a climate scientist, or be glued to the TV following second-by-second climate policy developments.
Climate literacy basics
The climate conversation can sometimes feel challenging, but a good understanding of its key elements provides a great jumping off point to learn more.
What is earth’s atmosphere?
The atmosphere is like a jacket for the planet, made up of a layer of gases that are kept in place by Earth’s gravity. These gases include nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, as well as a small amount of water vapour. The atmosphere plays a vital role in supporting life on Earth as it protects the planet from meteors, absorbs most ultraviolet radiation from the sun, and keeps the surface of the planet warm (the greenhouse effect). The gases in the atmosphere occur both naturally and as a result of human activity (for example, burning of fossil fuels creates carbon dioxide).
What are greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is a natural process that keeps the Earth’s surface warm. When energy from the sun reaches the Earth’s atmosphere, some of it is reflected back into space and some of it is absorbed by the land and oceans, creating heat. This heat then radiates towards space, where some of it is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keeping the planet warm enough to sustain life. These greenhouse gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which, as mentioned above, are both naturally-occurring and produced by humans. The most common greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is emitted through activities such as manufacturing, flying and driving.
What is global warming?
Global warming occurs when there are too many heat-trapping greenhouse gases within Earth’s atmosphere, leading to a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the planet. As humankind emits more and more greenhouse gases, earth’s temperature is steadily rising. The science makes it clear that we need to limit this temperature increase to 1.5C (compared to pre-industrial levels) if we’re to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
What is climate change?
The term ‘climate change’ is used to describe a change in average climatic conditions – such as temperature and rainfall – over a long period of time (as opposed to ‘weather’, which accounts for conditions on a day-to-day basis). Over the last several decades climatic changes have been taking place rapidly, which scientists attribute to increased global warming from human activities. These changes have resulted in higher temperatures, more extreme weather and melting polar ice.
What are the impacts of climate change?
Climate change has significant impacts on the environment, including biodiversity and water, economies and societies. Extreme weather events such as increased heat and drought can cause heat-related illness and death (the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that by 2030 250,000 people will be dying due to heat stress), more frequent wildfires, reduced water supplies and reduced agricultural yields, which in turn affects our food supply. Other extreme weather events such as severe storms will lead to flooding, disease, and damage to infrastructure such as roads and buildings.
People around the world will be affected by climate change in different ways. The most affected will be those in the global south whose geography means weather events will be more extreme. These societies have contributed very little to climate change and have fewer resources to mitigate impacts. But everyone – even those in developed nations – will feel the consequences of climate change, whether directly through extreme weather events or indirectly through challenges such as disrupted food systems, increased disease and reduced energy resources. Indeed many are already witnessing the impacts. This is why it’s so important that everyone is climate literate, so everyone can take action.
Where can I improve my climate literacy?
Reputable news sources and sites like Ocki (and our Get the Knowledge section) are a great place to learn more about climate change, but if you’re after a more structured approach you might consider:
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Courses for individuals by The Carbon Literacy Project
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Short courses on climate science from Future Learn
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Online courses from accredited institutions on Coursera
Further reading
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