Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

New study: Climate change messages can promote support for climate action internationally. Key takeaways from this study include: An "urgency and generational message" best promoted public support for climate action. No messages were polarizing or had backfire effects. The effectiveness of messages varied across the 23 countries studied. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eN3cn2UM

How do global warming beliefs differ by education levels in India? In India, there are very large differences in global warming awareness and beliefs across levels of education. These differences are larger than differences across gender, age, caste, income, and urbanicity. Learn more on our website: https://lnkd.in/e8n_tQbM

Brazil and Vietnam are the world’s two largest coffee producers, and extreme droughts in those countries have led to widespread crop loss of coffee plants. This has caused global coffee prices to surge to a 47-year high. Scientists say a combination of the El Niño and global warming have contributed to the extremely dry conditions. Arabica coffee, the world’s most popular variety, thrives in shady, moist environments and is highly vulnerable to climate shocks. Unfortunately, rising temperatures driven by climate change are increasingly pushing key coffee-growing regions beyond this delicate climatic zone. As such, scientists warn that by 2050, rising temperatures are predicted to reduce suitable coffee-cultivating regions by half, jeopardizing future global supply. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dWSjV8Ej via Inside Climate News

New Study: Our latest study reveals that about 1 in 6 of American adults are experiencing at least one symptom of climate change-related psychological distress, with higher prevalence reported among Hispanics/Latinos, lower-income adults, urban residents, and younger adults. Those feeling this distress are significantly more likely to engage in collective climate action, express a willingness to get involved, and discuss global warming with friends and family. Read the full study: https://lnkd.in/efJ-enS2

28% of US adults are alarmed about climate change, but many of them aren't sure what to do about it. That's why we've created this new climate solutions page! https://lnkd.in/dfujzr_j

Four YSE faculty members have been named to the world’s most influential researchers list by Clarivate Analytics, a company that compiles a list of scientists and social scientists whose papers rank in the top 1% of citations. Congrats to Mark Bradford, Anthony Leiserowitz, Peter Raymond, and Karen Seto. Read more about their work here: https://yse.to/hr

Recent mass bleaching, cyclones, and flooding have devastated the Great Barrier Reef near Australia, leading to “significant coral mortality.” In-water surveys by the Australian Institute of Marine Science between August and October found up to 72% of coral dead in 12 northern reefs, from Lizard Island to Cardwell. Across the northern section, over one-third of hard coral cover was lost, marking the “largest annual decline” in 39 years of government monitoring. Events such as the Austral summer, Tropical Cyclones Jasper and Kirrily, and freshwater inundation between December 2023 and March 2024 have heightened the Reef’s vulnerability to bleaching. Bleaching occurs when rising water temperatures force coral to expel microscopic algae called zooxanthellae, leaving them colorless and often leading to death. With 2024 already marking the fifth mass bleaching event in eight years, scientists warn that the Reef is nearing a tipping point. To protect the Reef’s future, experts urge Australia to adopt stronger emission reduction targets—at least 90% below 2005 levels by 2035—and to transition permanently away from fossil fuels. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dg28u4Bs via Al Jazeera Media Network

Good news for climate communicators in Ireland and worldwide: Our new segmentation of Climate Change’s Four Irelands and our climate opinion maps for Ireland have just been updated! Takeaways from the updated maps include: - Irish climate opinion maps show strong support for addressing climate change across the country. - The Irish public are engaged in climate change. However, more are “Concerned” than “Alarmed”, meaning many don’t yet recognize that the impacts are already “here and now”. - About half of adults in Ireland think climate change is mostly caused by human activities (53%) but there is significant variation across counties. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eSRuyYqm

A large majority of Washington state voters (62%) rejected a ballot initiative to repeal the state’s Climate Commitment Act, a carbon cap-and-trade law that has raised over $2 billion for the state. The Act mandates companies to purchase pollution permits at quarterly auctions, incentivizing businesses to cut their emissions while simultaneously generating funds for climate programs such as free public transport for youth and the installation of energy-efficient heat pumps. While similar cap-and-trade legislation exists in other states, Washington’s law is more ambitious, aiming to cut emissions in half by 2030 and by 95% by 2050. Carbon pricing has long been seen as politically risky, with opponents of the Act blaming it for raising gas prices. The ballot measure would have not only struck down Washington’s pollution pricing but also blocked the state from enacting similar policies in the future. Many are hopeful that voters' decision to keep the law will encourage more states to pass similar legislation. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gCQ75wtY via Grist

A new study finds that stakeholders within financial institutions can promote climate-aligned investing. Takeaways include: - Asset owners are the legal owners of financial capital, and many are still thinking about how to align their investments with climate realities. Private individuals who are the beneficiaries of these funds can influence how much asset owners prioritize climate change. - Lawyers and other advisors can help investment fund directors by explaining how to align climate goals with financial goals. - The climate policy and finance communities must collaborate to provide actionable insights to support the decision-making of asset owners. High-level ideas such as “invest in solar” need to be converted into specific steps, recommendations, and operational details. Read more: https://lnkd.in/diYqJVJ5