The English-only scientific literature is creating a global climate knowledge gap

Nature · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Most scientific research is published exclusively in English, leaving 75 percent of the world's population unable to access vital climate data. This linguistic barrier prevents billions from understanding the environmental changes impacting their lives, making global collective action nearly impossible.

The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat; it is a present reality. According to a 2/2022 Pew Research Center survey, 71 percent of Americans reported experiencing at least one extreme weather event—such as a flood, drought, or wildfire—in the previous year. Among those affected, over 80 percent identified climate change as a contributing factor. Despite this, the transition to clean energy remains too slow to avert the worst outcomes, often hindered by political polarization and the way climate solutions are framed.

A significant obstacle to global progress is the linguistic monopoly of English in scientific literature. This creates a massive information asymmetry, as three-quarters of the global population do not speak the language in which crucial climate resources are written. To combat this, Sophia Kianni, a social entrepreneur and activist, founded Climate Cardinals. This international, youth-led nonprofit works to bridge this gap by translating and sourcing essential climate information into more than 100 different languages.

Beyond simple translation, the way we use language can inadvertently fuel skepticism. In the U.S. and other English-speaking nations, political polarization is acute, often because climate solutions are perceived as government-imposed sacrifices. Even scientific jargon can mislead; for instance, scientists use 'positive' to denote increasing temperatures and 'negative' to describe the removal of CO2. Moving away from a narrative of deprivation toward a story of opportunity and human flourishing is essential to building the political will necessary for large-scale change.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Why your choice of words might be stalling climate action
• The rapid shift in our planet's temperature and weather patterns
• Why is solving climate change so difficult despite our unprecedented wealth and power?
• How can we communicate the climate crisis without triggering paralyzing despair in the public?
• Why the loudest voices on climate change are not the most representative of Americans
• Inside California's massive sanctuary housing over 700 abandoned cats
• The final evolution of a supercar icon takes to the track
• Can a culture survive when its ancestral land literally sinks into the sea?
• How green lacewings use vibrations to find a mate
• Can Louisiana's fishing industry survive the battle between land restoration and habitat loss?
• How a college student became a soldier in the push into Germany
• The lingering echoes of a sister's final goodbye

More in Nature · Latest · A–Z · All topics