Trust in climate science and climate scientists: A narrative review

Trust in climate science provides the foundation for evidence-based policymaking on climate change mitigation and adaptation and public perceptions of the urgency of climate change. Here we consider the possibility that lack of public trust in climate science and climate scientists may undermine the effectiveness of climate science communication. To this end, we narratively review three topics of relevance to climate science and climate scientists: 1) The current state of trust; 2) Reasons for distrust; 3) How political engagement affects trust. We then draw on insights from communication and behavioral science to recommend how climate change communicators can become more trustworthy.

对气候科学的信任为基于证据的气候变化减缓和适应政策制定以及公众对气候变化紧迫性的认知提供了基础。在此，我们考虑公众对气候科学和气候科学家缺乏信任可能会削弱气候科学传播的有效性这一可能性。为此，我们叙述性地回顾了与气候科学和气候科学家相关的三个主题：1）信任的现状；2）不信任的原因；3）政治参与如何影响信任。然后，我们借鉴传播学和行为科学的见解，就气候变化传播者如何变得更值得信赖提出建议。