Climate Literacy
Climate Literacy is understanding how the climate system works and how humans' actions can influence the climate, and how the climate influences society and other parts of the climate system.
A climate literate person:
- Understands the Earth's climate system and ways that they can address human-caused climate change
- Can recognise credible information about climate change
- Communicates with others about climate change in accurate and effective ways
- Can make informed decisions regarding climate change
Being climate literate doesn't require you to be an expert in climate science. Instead, it involves being open-minded, fostering future thinking, and staying engaged with the evolving conversations on climate change.
What is Climate Change?
Climate Change is a long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns. Most measured as the increase in Earth’s global average surface temperature.
In popular usage, it refers to the warming trend observed from the mid-20th century to the present.
Climate.gov (2024). The Essential Principles of Climate Literacy | NOAA Climate.gov. [online] www.climate.gov. Available at: https://www.climate.gov/teaching/climate.
Fecht, S. (2021). How Exactly Does Carbon Dioxide Cause Global Warming? [online] State of the Planet. Available at: https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/02/25/carbon-dioxide-cause-global-warming/.