Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

Image of patches of grass are visible through thinning snow under a gray sky with the text: “Wisconsin winters are getting shorter, warmer, and wetter as extreme weather becomes more frequent and costly.”

A new report from the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts confirms the state has warmed 3°F since the 1950s. Winters are shorter and wetter. Heavy rain is increasing. Extreme heat days are projected to triple by mid-century. Since 1980, climate disasters have cost Wisconsin over $1 billio

The legislation would make sales tax exceptions for data centers contingent on facilities using clean energy. However, other lawmakers in the state have proposed removing the tax exemption altogether, as the state aims to increase tax revenue. insideclimatenews.org/news/2302202...

A picture of the eiffel taken from the back of a boat tour on the Sein on a very clear sunny day with a green text overlay laid over an opaque deep blue text box that reads: “Landmark Paris Climate Trial Could Force TotalEnergies to Cut Emissions.” Besides the image and the text, in the top right corner lies the YPCCC logo, which is circular, with a hollow center, and a band of 5 colors.

A high-profile climate case unfolding in Paris may push one of France’s largest oil companies to strengthen emission controls and address broader public harm. insideclimatenews.org/news/1902202...

Photo of a snowy road with cars with text that states, “Heavy snowfall can turn into a flooding hazard if warmer weather or rain accelerates the melt.”

New research shows snowstorms in New Jersey can worsen flooding risks, and with 64% of Americans saying global warming is already affecting U.S. weather, the line between winter storms and climate impacts is getting harder to ignore.

Sources: Inside Climate News, YPCCC, Canva

An icon of New York City buildings with text that states, “Phasing out fossil fuels is not straightforward when natural gas still powers key sectors across New York City.”

As New York City works to cut emissions, continued investments in natural gas could deepen long-term reliance on fossil fuels, even as 59% of Americans say they feel personally responsible for helping reduce global warming.

Sources: insideclimatenews.org/news/2302202..., YPCCC

A photo of snowy mountains with text that states “New lawsuits challenge expanded oil drilling plans in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve.”

Lawsuits are challenging plans to expand oil drilling in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve. Meanwhile, 59% of Americans say they feel personally responsible for helping reduce global warming, according to YPCCC’s Fall 2025 study.

Sources: Inside Climate News, YPCCC, Canva

A proposed Ohio bill may curb renewable development by redefining “reliable” energy in ways that exclude most wind and solar. YPCCC polling shows that 63% of Ohio residents support transitioning the U.S. economy from fossil fuels to renewable energy. insideclimatenews.org/news/1902202...

EN ESPAÑOL » Yale Climate Connections Yale Climate Connections En Español

Keep up-to-date about climate change and how it can affect your daily life with @climateconnections.bsky.social’s new landing page en español:
yaleclimateconnections.org/espanol/

EN ESPAÑOL » Yale Climate Connections Yale Climate Connections En Español

Manténte informado sobre las conexiones entre el cambio climático y tu vida diario a través de la nueva página de inicio en español de YCC: yaleclimateconnections.org/espanol/

Exploring climate preparedness in low- and middle-income countries Our new analysis shows that governments’ readiness for extreme weather does not mean that individuals in those countries feel more prepared.

How prepared are you and your household for extreme weather events? Our latest analysis compares individual preparedness and institutional readiness across 68 countries and territories. Read more: climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications...

While rolling back climate regulations, the Trump administration says this is what the American people want. Yet, YPCCC’s own research shows that a majority of Americans think global warming is happening and that it is making extreme weather worse. climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications...

A photo of amphibians with text that states, “Ranavirus outbreaks in NJ wetlands raise new questions about wildlife health as temperatures rise.”

A new report examines how ranavirus outbreaks affecting amphibians in New Jersey could become more frequent with rising temperatures, as 69% of Americans believe global warming will harm plant and animal species.

Sources: insideclimatenews.org/news/1702202..., YPCCC, Canva

An image of marine animals underwater with the text, “The U.N.’s Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, which aims to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030, has come into effect.”

After ratification by more than 80 countries, the U.N.’s biodiversity treaty has formally come into effect. The agreement seeks to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 by establishing marine protected areas in previously unregulated international waters. www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

When discussing climate change, understanding your audience is key. For more effective outreach, YPCCC developed the Six Americas Super Short Survey (SASSY), a tool that helps climate scientists tailor their communication and better connect with different groups.

An image of a scenic Chinese river channel running through a traditional Chinese village, with few boats docked with a green text overlay that reads: “China’s decade long commercial fishing ban for China’s “Mother River” has already seen success, with endangered species already making a return.” The YPCCC logo, a circular band of five colors, is in the upper right hand corner of the image.

China’s 2020 ten-year commercial fishing ban on the Yangtze River has already led to a doubling of fish biomass, along with the gradual return of several endangered species. insideclimatenews.org/news/1202202...

An image of a the inside of a data center aisle with a plethora of entangled wires plugged into computing technology with a blue rectangular box and a light blue text overlay that reads: “Data center projects in America account for nearly 56 gigawatts of national energy use, enough to power over 40 million homes.” The YPCCC logo, a circle of five colors, is in the upper right corner.

With AI, cloud computing, and digital services driving unprecedented demand, the rapid growth of data centers is reshaping America’s energy landscape and straining power grids nationwide. insideclimatenews.org/news/1202202...

Photo of an orange thermometer with text above the icon that states, “New Research Shows Rapid Global Temperature Acceleration.”

Scientists warn that Earth is warming faster than at any time in the past millions of years. 47% say they have personally experienced its effects, underscoring how climate change is increasingly being felt.

(Sources: Inside Climate News & YPCCC)

Global Warming's Six Americas, Fall 2025 Our Fall 2025 Climate Change in the American Mind survey finds that 25% of Americans are Alarmed about global warming, and that the Alarmed outnumber the Dismissive (11%) by a ratio of more than 2 to 1.

The latest edition of our Six Americas segmentation is out today! We find that the group of people Alarmed about climate change have grown more than any other audience since 2015. Read more:

An image of floods with the text, "Climate change and La Niña intensified rainfall across southern Africa, triggering floods that claimed 200 lives."

Human-caused climate change, which has likely increased the intensity of extreme rainfall by 40% compared to pre-industrial times, along with the cyclical La Niña, has led to catastrophic flooding in southern Africa, killing 200 and affecting thousands. www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Image of multiple houses burning along a residential street as flames spread across the road with text, “Lawmakers are likely to pursue compensation from fossil fuel companies to offset rising insurance costs driven by climate disasters.”

As climate disasters drive insurance costs higher, lawmakers in California, Hawaii, and New York are considering new legal tools to hold fossil fuel companies financially responsible. Supporters say polluters should help cover soaring premiums linked to climate-fueled fires, floods, and storms.

An image of a waste dump with the text, “ Malaysia has imposed a ban on the import of electronic waste following reports of e-waste management corruption.”

Malaysia, a top destination for illegal waste imports, has classified electronic waste imports as “absolute prohibition” effective immediately. The move follows a probe into corruption related to e-waste management within the environment department. www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Photo of wastewater treatment plant with text that states, “Debate Intensifies Over Industrial Chemical 1,4-Dioxane in North Carolina Waterways.”

North Carolina’s removal of limits on 1,4-dioxane discharges has renewed concerns about toxic water pollution, and 79% of Americans within a YPCCC study say they are worried their local area could be harmed by water pollution or related impacts.

(Sources: Inside Climate News & YPCCC)

A capture of Manhattan facing downtown ward, with an incoming sunset with a navy blue opaque rectangular box and white text overlay that reads: “After just one year of implementation, New York City’s congestion pricing policy is already improving air quality in the city and in parts of New Jersey.” Besides the image and the text, in the top right corner lies the YPCCC logo, which is circular, with a hollow center, and a band of 5 colors.

New York City has recorded a 22% reduction in particulate matter, a dangerous pollutant, indicating that the city’s congestion pricing policy may be improving air quality across the city. insideclimatenews.org/news/0302202...

Photo of a power plant with text that states, “Air Pollution Sensors Reveal Climate Risks Across Northern California.”

Low-cost air pollution sensors in Northern California are showing unequal exposures to heat and dirty air across neighborhoods, revealing climate and health risks that traditional monitors often miss.

Sources: insideclimatenews.org/news/0502202... climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications...
Canva

An upward facing capture of three wind turbines backlit by a vibrant orange sunset with a deep brown opaque rectangle on top of the image and a white text overlay at the forefront that reads: “Major wind and solar projects across the nation are being halted as heightened government restrictions and a slowed permitting process create regulatory obstacles.” Besides the image and the text, in the top right corner lies the YPCCC logo, which is circular, with a hollow center, and a band of 5 colors.

The Trump administration’s Department of the Interior has halted the permitting of major wind and solar projects nationwide, bringing many proposed sites to a standstill. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/c...

The EPA has undone the “endangerment finding” this week. The finding states that greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health and that the EPA can regulate their emissions. Without the rule, the EPA is largely unable to regulate fossil fuel emissions. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/c...

An image of wildfires with the text, “Chile has declared a state of catastrophe after wildfires kill at least 18 people and force more than 20,000 people to evacuate.”

Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of catastrophe in Ñuble and Bío Bío, 500 km south of the capital, Santiago, after wildfires kill at least 18 residents, displace more than 20,000 people, consume 21,000 acres, and destroy over 250 homes. www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Positive Images of Heat Waves Reduce the Effects of Messages About Extreme Heat among U.S. Adults As climate change intensifies, extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and severe, posing growing risks to human health, ecosystems, and infrastructure. In a large-scale survey experiment (N...

There are many ways to communicate the idea of a heat wave in an image, but you should *avoid* “fun in the sun” imagery. Our new study finds that positive images of heat waves REDUCE worry about extreme heat. Read more:

Photo of a fossil fuel plant with text that states, “Burning fossil fuels has real consequences for our health and communities.”

Fossil fuel pollution harms both public health and the economy, contributing to serious illness, premature deaths, and lost productivity, according to Inside Climate News.

Sources: insideclimatenews.org/news/2401202... climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications...
Canva

An image of a factory spewing smoke with the text, “For the first time in over 50 years, India and China simultaneously reduced emissions from electricity generation by accelerating the deployment of clean energy.”

India and China, the world’s largest coal users, decreased power sector emissions simultaneously for the first time in over 5 decades. This shift was propelled by record-breaking growth in clean power generation in both countries over the past year. www.reuters.com/sustainabili...