Beyond Traditional Science Advocacy: Should Scientists engage in Climate Action?

The current climate and environmental crisis requires immediate societal changes. Here, we propose a discussion on whether scientists should engage in climate action. Activism offers a new avenue for climate advocacy that goes beyond traditional methods. We explore how scientists engaging in climate activism can educate the general public and press for urgent action and the conditions under which scientific activism can be most effective. Using historical and recent examples of non-violent civil disobedience by scientists, including actions we joined and/or supported as members of Scientist Rebellion, we demonstrate how such activism can be effective in complementing classical approaches to public education about the urgency of the climate and environmental crises, as well as in pushing for critically needed political action. We invite all scientists to engage in a discussion on whether we should engage in climate action as we acknowledge the complexities around scientific values, ethics, authority, and integrity.