Just about anything that substantially affects climate change
science or policy inevitably affects communication on those
issues. The Yale Forum focus in this feature, and the major
criterion for inclusion in notable climate developments of 2010,
is on key climate happenings influencing public understanding of
the subject. The year now just behind us flew by with record
warm temperatures, severe droughts, and numerous other weather
anomalies; policy action and inaction; evolving attitudes on
geoengineering and adaptation; and evolving attitudes and action
by American voters on climate change. Several ongoing analyses
point also to a significant decline in network news and major
metropolitan newspaper coverage of climate-related issues in
2010, with experts still debating the exact cause-and-effect
relationship, if any, with changing public attitudes on the
climate issue. More on that in a future Forum feature. Some
significant 2010 events affecting communications on, and public
perceptions of, climate change