Session 16C Communicating Climate Change Uncertainty to the Public

Thursday, 1 February 2024: 4:30 PM-6:00 PM
325 (The Baltimore Convention Center)
Host: 37th Conference on Climate Variability and Change
Chair:
Randall Patrick Benson, American Meteorological Society, Committee on Climate Services, Rye, NH

To educate and communicate the increasing risks posed by a changing climate to stakeholders, decision-makers, and the public, there are several methods of engagement that can be used. Firstly, engaging with stakeholders is critical to ensure that they have a deep understanding of the risks and are more likely to take action. This can be achieved through various methods such as consultations, focus groups, and workshops. Secondly, using clear and concise language and providing context is important to help people understand the implications of the risks posed by climate change. Thirdly, using different media and communication channels such as social media, data visualization, storytelling, and immersive experiences can enhance engagement with the information and reach a wider audience. Finally, collaborating with community-based organizations and citizen science projects can also be a successful approach to educate and communicate the risks of climate change to the public. Climate services should work to build trust with the general public by being transparent, honest, and accountable. This can involve acknowledging uncertainties and limitations in the science and being open to feedback and criticism. These methods of engagement can help to ensure that the risks posed by climate change are communicated effectively and reach a wider audience.

Papers:
4:30 PM
16C.1
Assessing and Communicating Climate Change Impacts on Midwest Specialty Crops
Josh Bendorf, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA; and D. Todey, L. Nowatzke, S. Parker, and B. Bearson

4:45 PM
16C.2
Climate Stress Inertia: A Policy Messaging Response to Farmer Powerlessness and Passivity Cognitions in Drought Extremes in a Jamaican Case Study
Sarah Fay Buckland, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica; Universidad del Valle, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

5:15 PM
16C.4
Uncertainty in Precipitation and Water Projections in the Climate Change in Colorado Report
Rebecca A. Bolinger, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO; and J. Lukas

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