Bridging science and society: Key communication points for climate experts

In 2023 and 2024, record global temperatures and numerous extreme weather events underscored the urgency of addressing climate change and its far-reaching environmental, social, and economic impacts. As these changes intensify, it is more important than ever for the scientific community to effectively communicate their findings to society and decision-makers. Bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding is essential for favoring informed decision-making and meaningful action on climate issues. Although scientists are among the most trusted professionals, inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration with communication experts is essential to improve scientific outreach on this critical issue. At the 2024 Annual Meeting of the European Meteorological Society (EMS) in Barcelona, we organized a workshop targeted to climate scientists to address challenges in climate science communication. Featuring experts from neuroscience, communication studies, activism, and journalism, the workshop fostered cross-disciplinary dialogue to identify strategies to raise public awareness of the climate crisis. This paper summarizes the key insights of the workshop, emphasizing the importance of training climate scientists in effective communication, enlarging networks for collaborative communication efforts, and integrating neuroscientific knowledge about cognitive biases and attitude change into messaging. Key takeaways from the workshop include: 1. recognizing and valuing the expertise and perspectives of the other party in the dialogue (dialogue-model), 2. understanding the influence of cognitive dissonance and biases in climate science communication, and 3. developing compelling research-based narratives that address both problem and solution through collaboration with communication professionals, such as journalists. These recommendations aim to empower the next generation of climate scientists to engage with society as trusted and impactful communicators.