THE C WORD is a film about science, power and communication. Words like ‘debate’, ‘belief’, ‘opinion’ are all used when talking about climate change. This demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding about science in our society and why ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’ proliferate when it comes to the subject of climate change.

The scientific method is a process of inquiry that involves developing and testing hypotheses through observation and experimentation and involves a rigorous process of peer review to ensure the accuracy of scientific findings. Uncertainty is an inherent aspect of the scientific method, as it recognizes that scientific knowledge is constantly evolving and subject to revision based on new evidence and analysis.

Climate skeptics have used the scientific method and uncertainty as a means to cast doubt on the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists that human activities are causing climate change. They have argued that the scientific community is not in agreement about the causes and consequences of climate change, and that the science is still up for debate. As such, they have manipulated the climate change message to serve their own financial or political interests.

While scientific uncertainty is inherent in the scientific method, the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists is that human activities are causing climate change. THE C WORD presents this clearly and reveals how climate scientists have been subjected to harassment, intimidation, and even death threats. The film will show how skeptics and interest groups have used various tactics to undermine the credibility of scientists who work on the issue and the personal toll this has taken.

We will feature science communicators – such as Bill Nye, David Suzuki, Graham Pearman, James Hansen, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, David Attenborough, and Carl Sagan – as well as climate scientists with far less experience as ‘public communicators’, and chart their discourse from the 1980’s to today, as they attempt to counter the disinformation spread by climate denialists and call for urgent action.