This paper creates a visual physically plausible causal chain to communicate long-term changes in local climate risk, using flooding in a UK river basin as an example. This chain places local hazards, such as flooding, within the broader context of global climate change, including factors like global carbon dioxide emissions and temperature changes. It relies exclusively on observations, thereby avoiding the additional uncertainties associated with climate scenarios that might hinder understanding in certain situations. This causal chain idea has the potential to be a powerful communication tool for clearly communicating risks and the contributing factors, engaging with local communities, and addressing common misconceptions like the “Myth of Dry Feet” - a Dutch expression implying that extreme events such as floods only happen elsewhere, and won't happen "here" or "to me". While this chain is created for flood risk in the UK, it has the potential for broader application in various geoscience fields.

This paper is timely because of its focus on going beyond interdisciplinary to transdisciplinary - which is a hot topic for the field and in academia. This would be of interest to the broader public because explicitly described transdisciplinary approaches to decision-making are appearing in national and international conversations (e.g., at the 2023 United Nations General Assembly).

Engaging a broad public in climate sciences is crucial for educating and motivating action. In turn, assessing communication initiatives can contribute to improving these activities for all involved. Through a systematic literature review, the authors emphasise the scarcity of peer-reviewed publications evaluating the outcomes of scientists' science communication efforts. The paper underscores the need to transparently assess these activities, whether successful or not, in order to advance the field. Although the focus of this paper is on public engagement in climate science, the implications extend to various geoscience domains.

We have selected this manuscript for inclusion in GC Letters because it addresses a critical and timely issue in the geosciences - economic barriers to participation in major scientific conferences, such as the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly. The study's findings highlight how financial constraints disproportionately affect scholars from lower-income countries, leading to significant underrepresentation and, consequently, a lack of diverse perspectives that are essential for scientific innovation and problem-solving in global challenges. By proposing actionable solutions to increase inclusivity, this manuscript contributes to ongoing discussions on equity in academia and aligns with our journal's commitment to promoting diversity and dismantling systemic barriers in the scientific community.