‘Climate change is more than a science problem - it reflects our true values’

Anthony Leiserowitz is Senior Research Scientist at Yale University’s School of the Environment. Speaking to Srijana Mitra Das at Times Evoke, he discusses the needs and challenges around climate communication

- Srijana Mitra Das

What is the core of your research?

I direct the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. We study how publics around the world respond to climate change, understand its causes, consequences and solutions, perceive its risks and support behaviours around solutions. These include backing government policies, consumer behaviour, social norms and political actions.

Why is climate communication so important?

Climate change is impacting all of us today. From the US to India and Vanuatu, we are all suffering these changes. We must know why rainfall, temperatures, etc., are altering. These dynamics inform all our decisions, from a farmer deciding what crops to plant to planners building new schools, roads and bridges. Making those decisions without being informed of climate science is unwise.

Humans tend to assume the climate of the future will resemble the past — science emphasises this won’t be so. We’re already experiencing record heatwaves, droughts and storms. These will only get worse. We must understand this truth properly.

What are the most important findings in your 2022 report on climate change and India?