Misinformation is reshaping climate politics, with net zero increasingly weaponised through selective data, false comparisons and strategic doubt, reinforcing the need for rigorous, accessible science communication.
Climate change is a communication challenge, where an ecosystem of deflection arguments has flourished: ‘But what about China?’ ‘We’re less than 1% of emissions.’ ‘The climate has always changed.’ ‘Can’t we just adapt?’ These claims are rarely attempts to inform; they’re rhetorical devices that delay action.
This talk presents Climate Trunk, a visual system of eight rings designed to confront these narratives directly. Built as a structured ‘forest’ of 100+ interconnected infographics, the project will provide a coherent, system-level view of climate science, impacts, energy and solutions, while explicitly addressing common forms of ‘whataboutery’.
Misinformation flourishes not because of a lack of data, but a lack of context and coherence. Facts are fragmented, structure is missing, and audiences are vulnerable to misleading comparisons and false equivalences. Visuals directly address this. When designed well, they anchor memory far better than words alone.
Through examples, this talk shows how carefully constructed visuals can reframe familiar deflections – placing national emissions in global context, distinguishing cumulative from annual responsibility, and clarifying the limits of adaptation. Each infographic is designed to be legible at a glance, credible under scrutiny, and resilient to misuse.
At a time of growing net zero backlash, the challenge is not just to communicate climate change, but to disarm the arguments that prevent action. This talk explores how visual thinking can help do that.