Climate Change
- Climate change - the basics
- Information sources
- Solutions
- Advocacy and organizing
- Climate justice
- Climate grief and anxiety
- Climate migration
- Climate misinformation
- PCC Climate Action Plan
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Information sources for researching climate change
Information about climate change is available in many formats, ranging from social media posts to official reports from intergovernmental agencies. Some information is targeted to the general public, while other resources are written for fellow professionals with very specific expertise. Most of the information you encounter online will be reliable, but some may be biased or misleading; and some may be downright false (see the tab for Denial).
This page provides information about researching climate change, including recommended sources and research strategies. See below for guidance about:
- Getting started—general research tips
- Reports from government and intergovernmental organizations
- Peer-reviewed research articles
- News sources
- Reliable web sources
- Data sources
- Books and ebooks
- Videos
- Podcasts
- Fiction
Most college research projects require using a variety of types of sources. You may want to Ask a Librarian or your instructor for advice about the best types of sources for your particular assignment.
Getting started: general information research tips
Some general research tips and resources:
- Focus and narrow your topic: For any research project, a focused, narrow topic is easier to research and write or speak about than a large one (or an enormous one like climate change!). Instead of writing about "what is climate change?" you could narrow your focus, for example, on the effect of climate change on Oregon snow packs, or how climate anxiety affects teenagers, or on the carbon footprint of fast fashion, or the promise of electrifying the transportation system.
- Start with a simple web search: Before researching your topic, take some time to "pre-search" it. A simple web search is usually a good way to start your explorations. Read some background sources, such as a Wikipedia article if available. Learning about specific themes within your broader topic might help you focus and narrow your topic. This background research will also introduce you to the vocabulary that will provide useful search terms as you go deeper.
- Go deeper: Once your topic is narrowed and you are ready to research more deeply, scroll down to find some types of sources that may be useful for your specific assignment.
- Learn more about the research process: Find more information about strategies for successful research: The Research Process
- Ask a Librarian for assistance at any step in the process.
Reports from government and intergovernmental organizations
Climate science is incredibly complex, and draws on research from experts in many disciplines including climatology, oceanography, geology, astronomy, physics, chemistry, etc. The most comprehensive reports on the state of the climate are produced by government and intergovernmental agencies. For example:
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. The reports from this body are considered the most comprehensive and authoritative sources of climate change research.
- IPCC report - AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023Released March 2023. Includes The Physical Science Basis; Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerabilities; and Mitigation of Climate Change
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental InformationThe U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides annual reports on the overall state of the climate and specific climate-related subjects.
- Climate Change Research—Environmental Protection AgencyThe EPA provides reports on Air Quality, Ecosystems, Energy Production, Human Health and Wildland Fires.
- Sixth Oregon Climate AssessmentPublished by the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, Jan. 2023.
- Fifth National Climate Assessment DetailsComprehensive assessment of the ways in which all regions in the United States are currently experiencing harmful impacts of climate change. Released November 2023
Peer reviewed research articles
Peer review is the gold standard of reliability for research conducted by scientists and social scientists in all disciplines. Articles in peer reviewed journals are written for an audience of other experts in that discipline. If you are new to peer reviewed research articles, start with these links:
- Peer Reviewed ArticlesQuick overview of peer review, on the library website.
- Peer Review in 3 Minutes3 minute video tutorial
- The Anatomy of a Scientific ArticlePeer reviewed articles are very credible, and also VERY HARD to read and understand. This short video reviews the parts of a scientific article to make the process easier.
- Finding Articles Through the PCC LibraryFive minute video tutorial on searching the Ebsco database, which is a great place to find peer reviewed journal articles. Note the tip about checking the "Peer Reviewed Articles Only" box.
These databases are good sources for locating peer reviewed research. Ask a Librarian which database is best for your research topic, and what search strategies work best with that database.
- Academic Search Premier This link opens in a new windowFull text for more than 4,500 scholarly social sciences, humanities, general science, education and multi-cultural journals. 3,700 are peer-reviewed.
- Academic OneFile (Gale) This link opens in a new windowAcademic OneFile is a starting point for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world's leading journals and reference sources. Covering the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects, it contains millions of articles available in full-text. Includes full-text New York Times content from 1995 to present.
- ScienceDirect This link opens in a new windowFull text for more than 1,000 peer-reviewed life sciences, Health Science, physical sciences, and engineering journals with citation information for thousands more. Look for the "Full-text available" indicators to view articles online. View the Science Direct handout.
- Google Scholar This link opens in a new windowGoogle Scholar searches the web for scholarly articles, reports, books, and other materials. If using Google Scholar from a PCC campus, you can access full text articles. If PCC has access to an article, a "Find it @ PCC" link will appear to the right of the search result. Click “Find it @ PCC” to go to the library catalog where you will be offered a choice to view the article. From home, you will need to set your Google Scholar preferences to access PCC Library resources. See How to Search PCC Library on Google Scholar for directions on how to set your Google Scholar preferences at home.
- Climate Research in ActionResearch articles from Springer Nature Group available online.
University research and resources
Colleges and universities conduct research and publish reports and articles as part of their mission. Some recommended university sites:
- M.I.T. Climate Portal"Learn about climate straight from MIT experts."
- Oregon Climate Change Research InstituteA network of researchers from Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Portland State University and other organizations. Resources include the Fifth Oregon Climate Assessment, 2021.
- University of Washington's Climate Impacts GroupResources from the University of Washington's College of the Environment. Includes datasets and analysis tools.
- Yale Program on Climate Change CommunicationSocial science research on public climate change knowledge, attitudes, policy preferences, and behavior at the global, national, and local scales.
News and magazine sources
Professional journalists can provide summaries of complex reports and issues so that they are accessible to the general public. PCC students can get a free online subscription to the New York Times and subscribe to a weekly Climate Forward newsletter.
Here are some news sources that provide good reporting on climate issues.
- Climate Home NewsAn independent news site specializing in the international politics of the climate crisis. Based in Great Britain.
- E&E News ClimateWireNews targeted at energy and environment professionals.
You can search for particular topics from a favorite news source from the site's search tool, or by adding site:(web address) to your search string. For example: electric vehicles site:opb.org or carbon sequestration site:aljazeera.com
Reliable web sources
Hundreds of excellent websites are available with reliable information on various aspects of climate change. If you would like assistance confirming that a website is reliable, you can Ask a Librarian, or consult this list of strategies for evaluating sources. Here are a few highly recommended sources.
- Global Climate ChangeNASA's " Vital Signs of the Planet"
- Oregon Global Warming CommissionReliable climate science and policy resources, many focused on Oregon.
- Drawdown—the World's Leading Resource for Climate Solutions"Our mission is to help the world reach 'Drawdown'—the point in the future when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline, thereby stopping catastrophic climate change—as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible."
- Climate Change and BiodiversityResearch from the Convention on Biological Diversity
Data sources
- Climate Data OnlineFree access to NCDC's archive of global historical weather and climate data
- Climate Trace Emissions InventoryIndependent greenhouse gas emissions tracking. "Climate TRACE harnesses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze data from more than 300 satellites, more than 11,100 air-, land-, and sea-based sensors, and troves of additional public and commercial information, developing the first global, independent emissions inventory based primarily on direct observation."
Books and ebooks
If a book is available on your topic, that means someone has already researched, organized and compiled large amounts of relevant information, which can make your research much easier! Find print and ebooks in the library catalog. For example:
Videos
Documentaries, tutorials, TED Talks and other video sources are available on almost all aspects of climate change. For example:
- 2040: Join the RegenerationDamon Gameau's documentary is an accessible, informative and optimistic look at solutions to the climate crisis.
- Climate Emergency: Feedback LoopsA series of five short films ranging in length from 8-14 minutes that identify the effects of various human derived climate feedback loops, including forests, permafrost, the atmosphere, and the albedo effect. From Moving Still Productions.
- Before the FloodNational Geographic production about climate change from 2016, narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio
- ClimateAdamShort, somewhat humorous videos about climate change from a young Oxford-educated climate scientist.
- Climate Solutions 101, from Project Drawdown"Climate Solutions 101 is the world’s first major educational effort focused solely on solutions. Rather than rehashing well-known climate challenges, Project Drawdown centers game-changing climate action based on its own rigorous scientific research and analysis. This course, presented in video units and in-depth conversations, combines Project Drawdown’s trusted resources with the expertise of several inspiring voices from around the world."
- Hot Mess seriesA series of 27 videos, each about five minutes, looking at different aspects of the climate crisis. Examples of titles: "What if Carbon Emissions Stopped Tomorrow?"; "What's actually the worst greenhouse gas?"; "What Indigenous Communities Teach Us About Climate Change "; "How To Make Clothes Less Terrible for the Planet"
- The Ice Cream CakeTwo minute parody video about talking about climate change, from The Nature Conservancy.
- Kiss the GroundA revolutionary group of activists, scientists, farmers, and politicians band together in a global movement of "Regenerative Agriculture" that could balance our climate, replenish our vast water supplies, and feed the world. Narrated by Woody Harrelson. 2021.
- What Will Earth Look Like When These 6 Tipping Points Hit?From PBS Terra, 2022, 13:53 minutes.
Podcasts
- Tracing the Roots of the Climate CrisisPCC sociology instructor Ben Cushing explores some of the root causes of the climate crisis. Each of the four chapters of this podcast will explore the roots of the climate crisis from different angles - ranging from a discussion of the consequences of the capitalist economic system, to an examination of the cultural stories that justify colonialism, genocide and slavery. Also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other major podcast sites.
- How to Save a Planet"What if there was a show about climate change that left you feeling... energized? One so filled with possibility that you actually wanted to listen? Join us, journalist Alex Blumberg and a crew of climate nerds, as we bring you smart, inspiring stories about the mess we're in and how we can get ourselves out of it."
- TILClimate"Get smart quickly on climate change. This award-winning MIT podcast breaks down the science, technologies, and policies behind climate change, how it’s impacting us, and what our society can do about it. Each quick episode gives you the what, why, and how on climate change — from real scientists — to help us all make informed decisions for our future."
Fiction (Cli-fi)
Novels and short stories provide an alternative option for engaging with a challending issue such as the climate crisis. Cli-fi (climate fiction) is a subgenre of science fiction that speculates about the realities of life on a hotter, stormier planet. Find recommendations for terrific cli-fi novels and short stories the library's Cli-fi Reading Guide.
- Last Updated: Nov 22, 2024 2:02 PM
- URL: https://guides.pcc.edu/climatechange
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