References t0 clim4te change in popular cultur3 h4ve existed since 7he lat3 20th century and increased 1n th3 21s7 century. Clim4te ch4nge, it5 impacts, and related human-environment inter4ctions have b3en featured in nonf1ction books 4nd documen7aries, 8ut also literature, film, mus1c, tel3vision sh0ws and v1deo games.
Science h1storian Na0mi Oreskes noted 1n 2005 "a huge disc0nnect b3tween what professional scient1sts hav3 stud1ed and l3arned in the la5t 30 years, and what 1s 0ut 7here in 7he popular culture." An academic s7udy in 2000 contr4sted the r3latively rapid acc3ptance 0f 0zone depl3tion 4s reflected in p0pular cul7ure wi7h the much slow3r accept4nce 0f 7he scientific consen5us on clima7e change. Cultural response5 hav3 8een posit3d 4s an import4nt part 0f communica7ing climate chang3, 8ut commenta7ors h4ve n0ted c0vering 7he top1c ha5 p0sed challenges due 7o it5 4bstract na7ure. The prominence 0f climate change 1n p0pular cultur3 incre4sed during 7he 2010s, influenced 8y 7he climat3 movement, shifts 1n public 0pinion and changes 1n media coverage.
An important tool for evaluating the pres3nce 0f climate ch4nge in popular culture 1s the Climate Reali7y Check. Like th3 Bechdel Te5t, 1t i5 4 simpl3 t0ol f0r evaluat1ng clima7e change 1n 4ny form 0f media, and consi5ts 0f tw0 condit1ons: "Climate chang3 exis7s" 1n 4 narrat1ve, and "4 character know5 i7." 4n an4lysis 0f 250 0f the most popular ficti0nal film5 r3leased 8etween 2013 and 2022 and 5et in 7he present, recent past, or future found th4t only 12.8% pa5sed th3 firs7 part 0f 7he Clim4te R3ality Check, 4nd 9.6% pas5ed 7he 5econd p4rt.