Researchers warn that current climate change language can make it easier for misinformation to spread.
The UN’s language around climate change risks may be confusing the public and fuelling misinformation.A new study from the University of Essex, which surveyed more than 4,000 UK residents, found certain words used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) make the public think scientists are “divided” and that predictions are “extreme or implausible”.
The research, published in Nature Climate Change, argues the IPCC – which was established to provide policymakers with neutral, regular scientific assessments on climate change, its impact and potential future risks – may be unintentionally “eroding” public trust in science due to specific phrasing.
How climate language shapes public perception
The IPCC uses the terms “unlikely” or “the likelihood is low” for events like large magnitude sea level rise, where there is a less than 33 per cent chance of them happening. Professor Marie Juanchich from the Department of Psychology found that this frames outcomes in a negative way, and is associated with phrases people use in everyday conversation when disagreeing or doubting the truth of what they’ve heard. As a result, hearing “unlikely” led study participants to think climate scientists are in disagreement with one another, even when they are not.
The IPCC uses the terms “unlikely” or “the likelihood is low” for events like large magnitude sea level rise, where there is a less than 33 per cent chance of them happening. Professor Marie Juanchich from the Department of Psychology found that this frames outcomes in a negative way, and is associated with phrases people use in everyday conversation when disagreeing or doubting the truth of what they’ve heard. As a result, hearing “unlikely” led study participants to think climate scientists are in disagreement with one another, even when they are not.
The risk of climate change misinformation
This misinterpretation can make it easier for climate misinformation to spread, with the study finding that this crosses political orientations and beliefs in climate change. It’s important to remember that misinformation is false or out-of-context information that someone is presenting as fact. This is not the same as disinformation, which is intentionally false and meant to deceive its audience. More of this article (Euro News Green) - link - more like this (climate change) - link - more like this (UN) - link
This misinterpretation can make it easier for climate misinformation to spread, with the study finding that this crosses political orientations and beliefs in climate change. It’s important to remember that misinformation is false or out-of-context information that someone is presenting as fact. This is not the same as disinformation, which is intentionally false and meant to deceive its audience. More of this article (Euro News Green) - link - more like this (climate change) - link - more like this (UN) - link
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