It’s almost impossible to avoid talk of climate change in the media and in everyday conversation. With new scientific studies, reports and evidence of its impacts rolling out on a frequent basis, it’s easy to get lost amid the swirl of updates.
And with this wealth of information comes plenty of climate misinformation; as the stakes get higher, tackling these myths and setting the record straight has become more important than ever.
Doing so isn’t just a matter of scientific accuracy — it can also have real impacts. Dilshani Sarathchandra, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Idaho who has studied different facets of climate skepticism, says these myths can sap the energy for change and undermine action by the public and politicians.
“In the face of myths and misperceptions, we as individuals lose our motivation to act,” Sarathchandra says. “We also lose our drive to engage in ...
