‘We have emotions too’: Climate scientists respond to attacks on objectivity

Dr Shobha Maharaj said the pushback had come from people in places of privilege with little experience of living on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Photograph: Kelly Ann Bobb/The Guardian

Climate scientists who were mocked and gaslighted after speaking up about their fears for the future have said acknowledging strong emotions is vital to their work.

The researchers said these feelings should not be suppressed in an attempt to reach supposed objectivity. Seeing climate experts’ fears and opinions about the climate crisis as irrelevant suggests science is separate from society and ultimately weakens it, they said.