Understanding the gateway: Unpacking the mechanisms, boundaries, and outcomes of climate consensus messaging

Communicating the scientific consensus on climate change acts as a gateway to increasing climate beliefs, a process described by the Gateway Belief Model (GBM). Although the effectiveness of this approach is well-documented, critical gaps in the literature persist. Few studies have scrutinized the risks of low-consensus messages and their correctability, the potential for consensus messaging to have an impact beyond self-reported measures, or the cognitive mechanisms driving belief updates. This study addresses these three critical areas in a German sample ( N = 941). First, we demonstrate the powerful adverse effect of a low-consensus message on the perceived scientific consensus (PSC) and show that this effect can be corrected through subsequent accurate messaging. Second, we introduce learning as a novel cognitive outcome, finding that high-consensus messaging can act as a gateway to knowledge acquisition. Third, we explore initial confidence as a key psychological moderator, revealing that it influences belief updating under certain conditions. • In a German population, inaccurate and low consensus messages have strong adverse effects that can be corrected. • Successfully communicating the scientific consensus can serve as a gateway to learning about climate science. • Initial confidence does not moderate belief updating, suggesting consensus messaging is effective regardless of prior certainty.