APA Conference Keynote Focuses on Challenges of Communicating Climate Change

Meghan Stromberg reports on the opening keynote from this year's annual APA national conference, taking place in Los Angeles through April 17th. Dr. Andrew Weaver spoke about the disconnect between climate change science and public perception.

1 minute read

April 16, 2012, 10:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


One of the lead authors of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's landmark report Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, Dr. Weaver spoke about the overwhelming scientific consensus behind the human impacts on climate change and divergent public perception of the problem and its causes.

He attributes this disconnect to both "how scientists communicate - including using jargon and failing to present complex issues in a way that nonscientists can understand - and how the media present these issues," writes Stromberg.

"The media, he said, employ sensationalist headlines and cite experts who lack true scientific credentials. Most egregiously, the media distort the facts in the name of providing the appearance of balanced reporting. In doing so, they give disproportionate time and voice to the small group of people who doubt the existence of climate change or the evidence that increased greenhouse gas emissions are the cause."

While the current commitments of the world's nations for reducing emissions by 2050 appear inadequate to head off the 2 degree Celsius threshold for significant impacts, Dr. Weaver was optimistic about the longer-range opportunity to create entirely de-carbonized societies through technological innovation, and implored planners to build the infrastructure to facilitate such a transformation.

Sunday, April 15, 2012 in Planning.org

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business

Large spinning swing ride at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip

Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

July 3 - Streetsblog Chicago

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3 - Governing