Abstract

Although the climate crisis is demonstrably worsening, climate science communication is still generally struggling to impress this reality on millions of people. From a logical perspective, data that demonstrates this flagrant transformation and highlights narratives of anthropogenic blight and extinction is needed. When that does not work, we connect these environmental concerns back to (equally important) public health concerns. For example, extreme heat warms the atmosphere, changing weather patterns that can lead to droughts, scorch the soil, negatively impact overall crop output, and warm the surface temperature of the ocean, resulting in larger waves and hurricanes. However, fear contorts both one’s perception of reality and how one is able to process information, leading to avoidance and denial. Thus, there are two central challenges to creating functional and useful climate science communication—engagement and accessibility. Accordingly, accessibility needs a rhizomatic definition to include many perspectives, informed by Indigenous epistemologies and disability justice. Accessibility, when understood this way, can welcome more people in, and, when done correctly (with accommodations and accountability), make a lasting change that makes communication more inclusive and impactful.