Climate Science and Policy

Guided mountain climbing such as on Mt. Rainier, WA operates in environments that are significantly impacted by climate change. This project explores the underutilized opportunity to communicate the impacts of climate change via the mountain guiding industry and analyzes the effectiveness of a climate science and communication program workshop developed for guides on Mt. Rainier. Results from survey responses from guides who attended the program workshop show a significant increase in stated comfortability in discussing climate change with their clients. Trust and emotional engagement are important factors when communicating climate change. Since the guide-client relationship fosters a setting of implied trust and the guided mountain climbing experience has potential for emotional engagement, guides with the resources to comfortably discuss climate change with clients are in a unique position to communicate the impacts of climate change with the public.