When you picture a climate scientist, the image that comes to your mind may be that of a glasses-wearing professional working in front of a computer, with a whiteboard showing ridiculously complex equations behind them. But, like a classic superhero, there is more than meets the eye. I’ll explain.

Let’s try a little experiment. 

First, take a moment to think about the war in Sudan that started more than three years ago. How do you feel? Now think about the finding that the world is heading toward global warming of 2.8°C over this century if we maintain our current policies. What emotions come to you? You’ve probably felt sadness and even anger when thinking about the war in Sudan, but the thought of global warming has likely not stirred your emotions as much.

However, there is a strong connection between the right to a safe climate and all the other well-known human rights, such as the right to life. This is why, in 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing the right to a healthy environment, which includes the right to a safe climate, as a human right. This was a huge milestone in the international fight against climate change, but of little interest to the ordinary citizen. By helping citizens fully realize that climate change negatively affects our human rights, climate scientists can bring the right to a safe climate into the spotlight.

Climate scientists can promote our human right to a safe climate in several ways. From lower to higher levels of engagement, these actions include conducting climate research, communicating climate........

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