Many people think climatology is just about weather forecasts. How do you usually explain your work to people outside science?

I usually have to start with the basics. Climate operates on large scales — in both time and space—while people most often experience it only through the weather where they live. They rarely look at the bigger picture and often forget what the weather used to be like. I remind them of events from their childhood: things that once happened regularly now occur rarely, while phenomena that were once unusual have become common. Heavy downpours, hailstorms, snowfalls, droughts, and tornadoes—these visible changes are a good starting point for talking about the causes of climate change, future scenarios, and what we can expect going forward.

Was there a moment in your work when you realized just how fast the climate is changing?

That realization came when I worked as a meteorologist in Antarctica in 1997–1998 and began analyzing climate changes—primarily temperature—at the British Faraday Station starting from 1947 (which became the Ukrainian station «Akademik Vernadsky» in 1996). During my time there, one of the strongest El Niño events occurred—a quasi-periodic warm current in the Pacific Ocean that affects the global climate. The strait near the Antarctic Peninsula did not freeze, and the temperature increase over 50 years reached about 2.5°C—one of the highest warming rates on the planet by the end of the 20th century.

What seemingly small details signal major climate changes?

Major climate shifts are signaled both by records and by everyday observations. Daily temperatures are shifting toward higher values, heatwaves are lasting longer, and a single rainfall event can bring a month’s worth of precipitation. Abrupt and rapid weather changes are becoming the norm. At the same time, seasons and the boundaries of biota* are shifting: traditional plant species struggle to survive, new species appear, insects and animals migrate, chestnut trees bloom in winter, wells run dry, and droughts increasingly lead to wildfires.

*the totality of all living organisms inhabiting a given area

What inspires you most in your work on climate issues?

What inspires me is knowing that I can truly influence the future and be honest with my children: I am doing everything in my power to prevent disaster and help lay the foundations for climate-resilient development. In young people’s eyes, I see not fear but curiosity and drive—they begin to grasp the scale of the challenge and want to be part of the solution. That is why I want to pass on all my knowledge and experience to them, so they are prepared to face even greater challenges in the future.

What myths about climate change do you encounter most often in your work?

One persistent myth is that climate change is just a «natural cycle», that the threat is exaggerated or concerns only the distant future, and that humans have no real influence—even though human activity is the main driver of these changes. People also often confuse weather with climate and believe that a cold winter or a single snowfall disproves global warming, even though we are dealing with long-term systemic processes. The key, therefore, is not to deny the obvious, but to rely on science, reduce our own impact, and learn how to live in new climate realities.