Climate change is one of the biggest threats to humanity. Scientists are well positioned to help address it beyond conducting academic research, yet little is known about their wider engagement with the topic. We investigate scientists’ engagement with climate change using quantitative and qualitative analyses of a large-scale survey (N = 9,220) across 115 countries, all fields and all career stages. Many scientists already engage in individual lifestyle changes, but fewer engage in advocacy or activism. On the basis of our quantitative and qualitative results, we propose a two-step model of engagement to better understand why. Scientists must first overcome intellectual and practical barriers to be willing to engage, and then overcome additional barriers to actually engage. On the basis of this model, we provide concrete recommendations for increasing scientists’ engagement with climate change.

气候变化是人类面临的最大威胁之一。除了进行学术研究之外，科学家们还可以帮助解决这个问题，但他们对这一主题的更广泛参与却鲜为人知。我们通过对 115 个国家、所有领域和所有职业阶段的大规模调查 ( N = 9,220) 进行定量和定性分析，调查科学家对气候变化的参与情况。许多科学家已经致力于改变个人生活方式，但很少有人参与倡导或行动。根据我们的定量和定性结果，我们提出了一个两步参与模型，以更好地理解原因。科学家必须首先克服智力和实践障碍才能愿意参与，然后克服其他障碍才能真正参与。在此模型的基础上，我们为加强科学家对气候变化的参与提供了具体建议。