Engaging young audiences in climate change: moving beyond fear through active science communication

Science communication is not only about conveying scientific findings, but also about fostering dialogue, understanding, and engagement among non-specialist audiences. In the context of climate change, narratives emphasizing catastrophic outcomes and individual responsibility can unintentionally foster fear, anxiety, and disengagement, particularly among younger audiences. Such fear-based communication may contribute to forms of inactivism, in which concern does not translate into action but instead leads to emotional paralysis. Communicating “efficiently” therefore means avoiding both denialism and doomism, as well as individualism, while preserving scientific accuracy and urgency.

In recent years, public trust in science has been questioned in many countries, influenced by political polarization, the spread of misinformation, skepticism toward scientific credibility, and contested roles of scientists in public decision-making.  In this context, scientists have a social responsibility not only to convey accurate information but also to frame the scientific message in ways that empower understanding and collective responses.

In this contribution, we reflect on climate communication strategies that move beyond frontal, passive teaching toward active and participatory engagement. Relying on outreach activities in secondary schools, we present results from questionnaires delivered before and after climate science lessons, with a specific focus on changes in students’ emotional responses and perceptions. The findings indicate that participatory approaches, such as interactive discussions, problem-solving simulations, and solution-oriented framing, can reduce anxiety and inactivism, while strengthening understanding, motivation to take action, and trust in scientific knowledge.

We argue that communicating climate change without catastrophism but emphasizing achievable pathways for action is not a dilution of problem urgency, but a necessary step toward enabling rational and hopeful societal responses to global challenges, particularly among younger generations, and in times of converging crises.