70 percent
of U.S. adults think that we should teach children the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to global warming. (Anthony Leiserowitz, Yale University)
A climate-literate person:
1. understands the essential principles of Earth’s climate system n knows how to assess scientifically credible information about climate
2. communicates about climate and climate change in a meaningful way
3. Can make informed and responsible decisions with regard to actions that may affect climate (Essential Principles of Climate Science)
50 percent
of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of a coast. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Service)
97.4 percent
of climate scientists who publish in peer review journals affirm human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures. (EOS)
$10,000 per flight
Cost of rerouting commercial polar flights to avoid serious space weather impacts on avionics and communications, according to 2003 Congressional testimony from United Airlines executives.
Irrigation lowering Asian water tables
Climate science and climate change are everywhere these days. Yet the public is more confused than ever about climate change basics. A recent report shows that since 2008 the percentage of the public that says global warming is happening has dropped from 71 to 57 percent. That’s in contrast to increased scientific consensus that the climate is changing.
Now, more than ever, society needs citizens who understand climate science and know how to apply that knowledge in their lives, careers, and communities.
The climate education community and climate scientists developed a coherent framework of “the big ideas,” along with the fundamental concepts that underpin them, called the “Essential Principles of Climate Science.” EPCS has been adopted by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, and is being used to guide new funding, new education projects, and communication efforts.
CIRES Education and Outreach has been a climate literacy partner from the beginning. It’s not enough to know about climate science. Teachers, scientists, and communicators also need to know how to engage in communication as effectively as possible. CIRES Outreach projects for climate literacy include online courses, teacher workshops, scientist and communicator workshops, and digital collections of reviewed climate resources.
