case-studies-from-ipcc-authors/usa/

Dr Alex C. Ruane, an IPCC author, details his method of translating complex climate data into accessible information for community groups in Manhattan. He emphasizes moving from abstract metrics, such as CO2 concentrations, to tangible impacts on food and cities, and utilizes specific analogies—such as comparing sea level rise to raising a basketball court floor—to make scientific uncertainties and risks more comprehensible to non-experts.

• Dr Alex C. Ruane translates abstract climate metrics into tangible real-world impacts to make the science more relatable to diverse audiences, focusing on effects on food, ecosystems, oceans, cities, and vulnerable communities.
• The use of specific analogies helps communicate complex concepts: sea level rise is compared to raising the floor of a basketball court to explain flooding, and the uncertainty of carbon emission thresholds is compared to a patient asking a doctor how many more cigarettes they can smoke before developing lung cancer.
• Effective climate communication should balance the consequences of inaction with a positive message that emphasizes the ability to reduce climate change and prepare for its consequences.

APA

Ruane, A. C. (2020). case-studies-from-ipcc-authors/usa/. Climate Outreach. https://climateoutreach.org/case-studies-from-ipcc-authors/usa/

Chicago

Ruane, Alex C. case-studies-from-ipcc-authors/usa/. Climate Outreach, 2020. https://climateoutreach.org/case-studies-from-ipcc-authors/usa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ruane |first1=Alex C. |title=case-studies-from-ipcc-authors/usa/ |publisher=Climate Outreach |date=23 June 2020 |url=https://climateoutreach.org/case-studies-from-ipcc-authors/usa/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ruane2020casestudiesfromipccauthorsusa, author = {Ruane, Alex C.}, title = {{case-studies-from-ipcc-authors/usa/}}, institution = {Climate Outreach}, year = {2020}, month = jun, url = {https://climateoutreach.org/case-studies-from-ipcc-authors/usa/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }