Resources
U.S. Fifth National Climate Assessment
The U.S. Government’s preeminent report on climate change impacts, risks, and responses provides the scientific foundation for informed decision-making across the nation.
The Road to Clean
Potential Energy’s report on how to message electric vehicles in a charged environment.
Later Is Too Late
A report on Potential Energy’s 23-country message-testing research on what motivates people to demand climate action.
The Production Gap
This analysis by the Stockholm Environment Institute and UN Environment Programme shows that countries plan to produce twice the fossil fuels in 2030 than what would be consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5C.
Global Methane Assessment
This report from the UN Environment Programme and the Climate & Clean Air Coalition details the benefits and costs of reducing methane emissions globally.
COP28 has become a shameless exercise in the fight against climate change. But can we afford to walk out?
Good COP, Bad COP? Hassol & Mann call for reforms to the flawed process, stressing the urgency of climate action.
For our kids’ sake, it’s time to fix climate change
Susan Hassol and Katharine Hayhoe say it’s time to turn climate angst into action. Our children’s future depends on us. Later will be too late.
Spectrum News: Extreme Heat and Broken Records
Susan Hassol spoke with Spectrum News about the climate crisis and the extreme heat & broken records that we are experiencing this summer.
This heatwave is a climate omen. But it’s not too late to change course
Mann and Hassol explain that yes, dangerous climate change is here, but it’s not too late to take action.
Welcome to the apocalyptic haze of the new abnormal. There is nowhere left to hide
Susan Hassol & Mike Mann discuss the Canadian wildfires’ links to climate disruption & their impact on air quality & human health.
Enjoy the weather. Worry about the climate.
Susan Hassol and Mike Mann discuss extreme weather & its links to climate disruption. Eerily warm weather in February feels wrong because it is wrong.
The Right Words Are Crucial to Solving Climate Change
In this article, Susan Hassol discusses how the language and messages we choose to speak about climate change really matter.
Is there still time for COP27 to hold back climate catastrophe?
Susan Hassol and Mike Mann offer both good news & bad news on climate action and what to look for at COP27.
Hurricane Ian is no anomaly. The climate crisis is making storms more powerful
Mann & Hassol discuss how climate change made Hurricane Ian stronger, larger, faster to intensify with higher storm surge & heavier rain.
Catastrophic weather: The ghost of summer future
Mann & Hassol write about the current heat waves, fires & floods with a Dickensian take on this climate catastrophe premonition if we don’t stop burning fossil fuels.
Heat wave bakes one-third of Americans, highlighting urgency of climate legislation
Susan Hassol and Mike Mann write about the current heat wave supercharged by the climate crisis and the urgent need for strong US climate legislation.
Our Risk For Infectious Diseases Is Increasing Because of Climate Change
In this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, scientists highlight how climate change is increasing our risk to infectious diseases and what we can do.
The Health Promise of Climate Solutions
In this Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health report, five climate solutions that research shows will deliver immediate, often localized, health and equity benefits are outlined.
IPCC Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change
This report provides an updated global assessment of emission reduction and mitigation efforts, the impact of national climate pledges, and examines the sources of global emissions.
Quick Facts
Quick Facts are brief fact sheets on the links between climate change and current events, like various kinds of extreme weather. They compile the best science in plain language for journalists, scientists, and anyone interested.
Now Is Not the Time To Give in to Climate Fatalism
Susan Hassol & Michael Mann lay out how to feed three birds with one scone: tackle the climate crisis, the war in Ukraine, and economic woes with a clean energy transition.
IPCC Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
This report assesses the impacts of climate change, and reviews vulnerabilities and the capacities and limits of the natural world and human societies to adapt to climate change.
Lost time means a steeper climb on climate
Susan Hassol & Michael Mann write about the costs of delay caused by the public disinformation campaign funded by fossil fuel interests and the importance of acting now on climate.
BBC World News: Climate Critical
Susan Hassol on Climate Critical, a weekly climate segment of BBC World News, talking about the language of climate change and how to be both accurate and effective while communicating.
Climate Change in the American Mind, April 2022
Drawing on a nationally representative survey, this report describes Americans’ beliefs and attitudes about global warming. By Yale University and George Mason University.
Scripps News: Climate Change Emerges As Key Issue For Some Voters Ahead Of Midterms
Susan Hassol spoke with Scripps News about climate change and the midterm elections – majority of Americans support climate action.
Glasgow’s hope at a critical moment in the climate battle
Susan Hassol & Michael Mann reflect on the final COP26 decision statement and write about how real progress, though insufficient, was made.
Let’s emerge from Glasgow still in the fight
Susan Hassol and Michael Mann reflect on week 1 of COP26 —We are making substantial progress, & it’s wholly insufficient to the scale of the climate crisis.
Three Things We Must Do to Tackle Climate Change
Susan Hassol and Jerry Melillo write about what we must do to tackle climate change — phase out fossil fuels, deploy clean energy and protect the world’s forests.
America’s Next Great Migrations Are Driven by Climate Change
Susan Hassol and Parag Khanna write about climate migration and how the “climate niche” for habitability is shifting in America.
The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts, Evidence and Proof
A quick review of the basics of climate change science with answers to often-asked questions, by New York Times‘ reporter Julia Rosen
IPCC Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis
This Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report addresses the most up-to-date physical understanding of the climate system and climate change.
America in 2090: The Impact of Extreme Heat, in Maps
Susan Joy Hassol and Kristie Ebi write about how climate change is making extreme heat more deadly, with graphics by Yaryna Serkez of the NY Times.
That Heat Dome? Yeah, It’s Climate Change.
Michael Mann and Susan Hassol write about the heat wave afflicting the Pacific Northwest and its climate connections.
Banking on Climate Chaos: Fossil Fuel Finance Report 2022
This report analyzes fossil fuel financing from the world’s 60 largest commercial and investment banks.
Climate Reporting Master Class
A free, online program designed to help journalists up their game in incorporating climate change into their reporting on every beat.
Now What? The data doesn’t speak for itself, you have to speak for it
A podcast with Susan Joy Hassol talking about why words and stories matter so much when telling the story of climate change.
Yale Climate Opinion Maps 2023
These maps show how Americans’ climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, and policy support vary at the state, congressional district, metro area, and county levels.
Project Drawdown
Project Drawdown is a global research organization that identifies, reviews, and analyzes the most viable solutions to climate change, and shares these findings with the world.
New Quick Facts Reporting Resource: Wildfires and Climate Change
SciLine
SciLine, a project of AAAS, connects journalists with expert sources and provides the latest science in plain language. SciLine hosts our “Quick Facts for Any Story” that summarize the links between extreme weather events and climate change.
New Quick Facts Reporting Resource: Hurricanes and Climate Change
New Quick Facts Reporting Resource: Heat Waves and Climate Change
New Quick Facts Reporting Source: Torrential Downpours, Flooding, and Climate Change
SciLine and Climate Communication released our initial installment of the ‘Quick Facts for Any Story’ series with its
IPCC Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5º C
This Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report looks at the impacts of global warming of 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels.
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
A global initiative to phase out fossil fuels and support a just transition.
BankTrack
BankTrack is the international tracking, campaigning and NGO support organization focused on banks and the activities they finance.
Trump is Leading America Down a Carbon Dioxide Highway to Disaster
Michael E. Mann and Susan Joy Hassol reflect on the Trump Administration’s handling of climate change and the November 2018 National Climate Assessment.
What We Know About the Climate Change and Hurricane Connection
Michael Mann, Susan Hassol, and Thomas Peterson write about the science of hurricanes and climate change — what we know and how we know it.
How Climate Change is Making Hurricane Damage Worse
Doomsday scenarios are as harmful as climate change denial
Michael Mann and Susan Hassol write about how climate doomism leads to more inaction and why the most motivating emotions are worry, interest and hope.
2020: The Climate Turning Point
This report explains why and how heat-trapping gas emissions must begin declining rapidly by 2020 at the latest if the world is to avoid crossing the temperature thresholds agreed to in Paris.
Medical Alert! Climate Change is Harming Our Health
12 medical societies summarize the threats climate change poses to our health through extreme weather, reduced air and water quality, increases in infectious and insect-borne diseases, etc.
Climate Trumps Everything
In the aftermath of the presidential election, Michael E. Mann and Susan Joy Hassol reflect on the election results in the context of climate change.
UnNatural Disasters
Susan Joy Hassol and colleagues write about communicating the connections between extreme weather events and climate change.
Resources for Journalists of the Carolinas
Climate Reporting Resources for NC and SC Journalists
Thank you for attending our September 13-14, 2019 workshop at UNC which introduced you to the
A conversation about climate hope
In this NASA blogpost, Susan Hassol discusses how to move past fear and despair over climate change and instead face it with courage, optimism, and integrity.
Communicating the Science of Climate Change
This article addresses issues of language, framing, and other aspects of how scientists can be more effective in communicating climate change.
Improving How Scientists Communicate Climate Change
This article discusses some of the problems with how climate scientists communicate and offers practical suggestions for improvement.
Weather Underground Summary of Susan’s AGU talk
This post by Jeff Masters captures highlights of Susan’s talk at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting including top ten reasons for hope on climate change.
Interview – Climate Communication: Science & Solutions
Following an MIT panel, Susan was interviewed for her thoughts on climate change, communication, and the challenges and opportunities ahead of us.
ClimateTalk: Science and Solutions
Susan Hassol on how language and ideology contribute to stalling action on climate change – and how we can resolve these issues and unleash our ability to resolve the problem.
Climate Communication Videos
These videos, created by Climate Communication, animate and explain the science behind climate change, potential impacts, and what we can do going forward.
RMI
RMI is an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization of experts across disciplines working to transform the global energy system to secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all.
Forecast: A podcast interview with Susan Hassol
Nature magazine’s climate science editor, Michael White, interviews Susan on language and the art of climate communication for this hour-long podcast and short write-up.
Climate Change Workshop for Media Professionals
These videos show portions of a workshop for media professionals on climate change and its impacts in coastal North Carolina.
Strong Science, Forceful Actions, Positive Outcomes
Richard Somerville’s April 2016 public talk at the UC San Diego Library about the science of climate change and why there is reason for hope.
On The Front Lines of Climate Change
In these videos, scientists and citizens from around the country personify the scientific information detailed in the 2014 National Climate Assessment.
Climate Stories NC
This video series captures the voices and experiences of North Carolinians whose lives have been affected by changes in the climate.
Skeptical Science
This website offers clear responses to all the typical contrarian arguments.
Climate Interactive
Climate Interactive develops simplified yet scientifically rigorous models that can help people see the climate impacts of various policy choices and emissions pathways.
The Solutions Project
This site lays out how we can accelerate the transition to 100% clean renewable energy. They’ve created renewable energy plans for all 50 U.S. states and many countries.
Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project
This global collaboration of energy research teams across 16 countries charts practical pathways to deeply reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy Innovation
Through research and analysis, Energy Innovation seeks to accelerate progress on clean energy by identifying and supporting policies that most effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
C.L.E.A.N.
This site provides a guide to teaching climate science, as well as scientifically and pedagogically reviewed digital resources (labs and activities for a range of students) for teaching about climate and energy.
The Scientific Case for Urgent Action to Limit Climate Change
Richard Somerville gave the 4th Annual Charles David Keeling Memorial Lecture at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD.
What’s causing unusually hot temperatures in the U.S.?
Science Advisor Kevin Trenberth was interviewed by Judy Woodruff on Newshour. He spoke about recent extreme heat and its impacts, and the connection to climate change.
Telling the Climate Change Story (Woods Hole)
Susan Hassol addressed framing, psychological and cultural issues, and questions involving language in this talk on climate communication.
Too Hot Not To Handle
Susan Hassol wrote this documentary, selecting stories and scientists to best convey the impacts of climate change on Americans and communicate the variety of solutions already underway to address the climate challenge.
Real Climate
A commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists for the interested public & journalists. The site aims to provide a quick response to developing stories and provide context sometimes missing in mainstream commentary.
AAAS: What We Know
The What We Know Initiative aims to educate the public on climate change “Risk, Reality, and Response.” It includes a short report of main messages, and videos where experts discuss the facts of climate change.
NASA Climate Website
This award-winning site includes well-presented data, visualizations, and resources for children, educators, and students.
NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information
NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information is the world’s largest repository of climate data.
NOAA Climate.gov
This NOAA climate website includes a variety of resources including a series of videos featuring Deke Arndt, Chief of the Climate Monitoring Branch at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center.
Climate Central
An independent organization of scientists and journalists who research and report on climate change and its impacts. Home to Climate Matters, localized climate reporting resources for journalists and weather casters.
EPA Student’s Guide to Climate Change
This site allows kids to explore the causes and impacts of climate change, along with ideas for solutions. Fun and interactive (videos, graphics, games), this is ideal for a younger audience.
Climate Insights 101
Geared to middle to high school students, these modules are teaching aids on the basics of climate science. There are modules of a couple of minutes, and longer ones of up to 20 minutes. Each is followed by an optional quiz.
Our Climate Our Future
An interactive video series by the Alliance for Climate Education, educating young people about the science of climate change and empowering them to take action.
Climate Change, Irreversibility, Urgency
Richard Somerville argues that a failure to reduce CO2 emissions significantly within 10 years will have large adverse effects on the climate.
Yale Project on Climate Change Communication
Yale and George Mason work together to produce some of the most comprehensive reports on the American public’s perceptions of climate change including their “Six Americas” work.
George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication
Yale and George Mason work together to produce some of the most comprehensive reports on the American public’s perceptions of climate change including their “Six Americas” work.
NASA’s Climate Kids Page
A great resource for children and young students that includes information modules, interactives, and image galleries and activities teachers can utilize.
141 years of warming in 30 seconds
NASA produced this animation illustrating planetary warming from 1880 through 2021.
Getting the Picture
This interdisciplinary educational tool for teaching climate science is especially useful for middle and high school levels. It extends beyond physical science to incorporate history, economics, geography, art, and social studies.
Just Another Faux Climate Controversy
Susan Hassol and Michael Mann discuss the latest faux climate controversy promoted by right wing tabloid press and politicians.
Communicating Climate Change
This interview by NASA JPL’s Sharon Ray provides an in-depth discussion of Susan Hassol’s ideas and motivations.
IPCC in Haiku
The entire IPCC report in 19 illustrated haiku: An oceanographer’s work of art that doubles as powerful talking points and a visual guide to the main messages of the 5th Assessment Report.
Scaling back our energy-hungry lifestyles means more of what matters, not less
This article discusses how scaling back carbon-intensive growth does not mean sacrificing quality of life, but rather enhances it.
Medical Metaphors for Climate Issues
In this essay, Richard Somerville discusses using metaphors that harness the language of medicine to effectively communicate climate issues.
