Find Reliable Information on Climate Change

The human influence on climate change remains a hot topic in science and politics. With all the different information available on the internet, it can be tricky to filter through various agendas and inaccurate information. Thankfully, there are several reputable sources of climate change information, ranging from government websites to peer-reviewed articles and more. With reliable resources, you can put your best forward as you stay informed and Spread Awareness About Climate Change.

Steps

Authoritative Information

1. Read peer-reviewed articles for timely information. Peer-reviewed journal articles are written by experts in their respective fields. Before getting published, these works are critiqued by other experts in the environmental science field. With these journals, you know you’re getting accurate, well-sourced, and timely information about climate change.
   • You can find some great peer-reviewed materials on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) website.
   • Pubmed and Google Scholar are great places to find peer-reviewed articles online.
2. Choose articles published by reputable organizations. Climate change is a very big issue, and a lot of different organizations discuss it. Look for articles published by well-established government groups, or other well-respected organizations. Browse these websites often for new updates on climate change, and see what kind of articles and resources you can find!
   • Typically, reliable sources will have domains like “.edu,” “.org,” and “.gov.”
   • Some good organizations to consider are: Bureau of Meteorology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), The Royal Society, Joint Science Academies, and more.
3. Follow reputable news stations for up-to-date content. Sign up for print or digital subscriptions to well-established news stations and programs, which will provide timely updates on climate change-related issues. If you don’t have time to read articles, many of the sources offer podcasts and audio versions of their reports.
   • For example, BBC News, National Geographic, and The New York Times are some great organizations to consider.
   • For more environmentally-focused reports, look into Climate Central, Climate Reality Project, Union of Concerned Scientists, and more.
4. Check out educational organizations for quality information. There are a lot of educational groups that are dedicated to publishing the facts on climate change. You only need to find their websites or speak with a local representative—they are usually more than willing to have a discussion or provide you with written information to keep you knowledgeable about climate change.
   • Some great organizations to consider are: The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Alliance for Climate Education, National Center for Science Education, and more.
5. Focus on content published by non-profit organizations. There are a lot of groups who aim to raise awareness regarding climate change. Many of these publications and organizations are attached to larger, reputable groups, and offer a lot of valuable info to any curious readers.
   • You can find a lot of great resources here: https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/resources/sources-for-climate-news.
6. Check out articles dedicated to debunking myths. Climate change can be a confusing topic with all of the different conspiracy theories and false facts surrounding it. Read through articles that help break down these myths, and help parse the truth out of the misinformation.
   • For instance, Skeptical Science, Real Climate, and Desmogblog are all great websites to look through for clear facts.

What to Avoid

1. Stay away from articles with an obvious bias. Many different industries and companies are affected by the public facts and opinions on climate change. To avoid these inherent biases, look for factual articles and studies published by reputable, scholarly groups. Stay away from articles that present limited, one-sided views, or use harsh language instead of focusing on the facts.
   • For example, articles published by companies that provide fossil fuels may be more likely to downplay the human involvement in climate change.
   • Factual articles will focus on studies and information, and won’t be riddled with bias.
2. Avoid articles with sketchy sources. Peruse the provided sources for the article and see if they look legit or not. Sketchy sources may try to fake you out with a seemingly credible domain name, or they might reference outdated sources. Double-check the source citations to get a good idea of whether your information is credible or not.
   • If the article doesn’t reference specific studies or authors, you may want to look for information elsewhere.
   • This is particularly important for articles on the Internet, especially if they’re posted on social media sites. Anyone can post any opinion they want on the Internet, making it difficult to decide what information to trust and what to discard.
3. Skip over opinion pieces. Blogs, forums, and websites like Wikipedia can be a great starting point for your research, but they shouldn’t be the core of your information. Instead, redirect yourself to websites published by credible, reputable sources.
4. Don’t believe everything you hear on social media. Social media, whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or something else altogether, is filled with misinformation, which makes it difficult to get your finger on the pulse of what’s going on. Instead, focus on your energy on trusted sources, which will offer much more reliable information when it comes to climate change.
   • For instance, if a relative posts a climate change conspiracy on Facebook, it’s probably best to look the other way.
5. Watch out for fake news sites. Fake news sites are designed to spread disinformation, or intentionally false information. Fake news sites often try to mimic regular websites and try to press outlandish or fear-mongering talking points. Check the URL to see if it’s a real source or not—typically, fake news sites include “lo” in their names, or use fake domains, like “.com.co” to make themselves seem legit.
   • You can also sneak a peek at the “About Us” tab to see if you can find any concrete info about the source.
   • Fake news articles are designed to make you feel angry and upset, instead of giving you unbiased facts. A fake news article on climate change might blame global warming on a certain political group, or deny that it’s happening at all.

Tips

• Don’t share information with your friends and family unless you know it comes for a reputable source.

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