SiP Talk #12

Why (not) Trust Politics and Climate Science? Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the ‘Crisis of Trust’

In public and academic debates, there is an increasing discussion about a ‘crisis of trust,’ particularly concerning political institutions and certain fields of science. The growing skepticism toward climate science highlights how closely trust in the sciences is linked to trust dynamics in political institutions and their capacity for action – and vice versa. In times of increasing polarization and societal fragmentation, it seems as though the loss of trust in both areas is reinforcing each other: mistrust in climate science is often tied to political skepticism, while doubts about climate science can, in turn, undermine trust in political institutions.

But what does it actually mean to trust political institutions and climate science, and what happens when trust erodes? What social and political factors contribute to the development of trust or mistrust toward political institutions and climate science? And is the talk of a ‘crisis of trust’ truly justified?

These and other questions will be discussed in the panel with:

Prof. Seneviratne: Vice-Chair of the IPCC, Professor of Land-Climate Dynamics, and Head of the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, D-USYS, ETH Zürich

Dr. Victoria Cologna: Postdoctoral Researcher at D-USYS and Early Career Fellow at Collegium Helveticum, ETH Zürich

Prof. Mazouz: Professor of Practical Philosophy, D-GESS, ETH Zürich

Organization & Moderation
Dr. Louisa Estadieu & Niklas Kirchner, D-GESS, ETH Zürich