How scientists can contribute to the social movements essential to protecting climate and nature

2025/07/31 by Abigail J. Perrin, Stuart Capstick, Tracey Elliott +4 · 2 voices · 4 citations
Environmental Science · Social Sciences · #Biology #Climate Change Communication and Perception #Climate change #Conservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education #Ecology #Environmental ethics #Environmental planning #Environmental resource management #Environmental science #Law #Political science #Politics #Social movement #Sustainability and Climate Change Governance

paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s44168-025-00268-9

published in npj Climate Action 4(1), 72

openalex publication_date 2025/07/31 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Scientists have much to contribute to the growing social movements pushing for urgent and transformative change to address the climate and biodiversity crises. Depending on their skills, interests and circumstances, scientists can actively participate in social movements as members (whether on the streets or behind-the-scenes), endorse and facilitate these movements in their professional capacity and within their institutions, and build social movement effectiveness through research and teaching.

Citations

• Wanting to be part of change but feeling overworked and disempowered: Researchers’ perceptions of climate action in UK universities
• The 2024 state of the climate report: Perilous times on planet Earth
• Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries
• Challenging the neutrality myth in climate science and activism

Cited by

• Ethics and action pathways for psychologists in a time of climate crisis. [europepmc]

Discussions

• A liveable & sustainable future for all is currently at risk. Scientists can act in ways commensurate with research evidence. On a spectrum from indirect to direct @abiperrin.bsky.social‬ et al. outli [bsky, 28 points, 0 comments]
• This (and more!) on a LinkedIn post (b/c more characters) and a recent Open Access paper on advocacy/activism by scientists. doi.org/10.1038/s441... [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]

Related

• The activism responsibility of climate scientists and the value of science-based activism
• The biospheric emergency calls for scientists to change tactics
• Global Warming and Sociology
• Between two worlds: the scientist’s dilemma in climate activism
• What Is the Social Responsibility of Climate Scientists?