Scientists just found a way to break through climate apathy | Findings suggest that if scientists want to increase public urgency around climate change, they should highlight clear, concrete shifts

Denialists figured that out a long time ago. They just did it with adjusted graphs and cherry picked data to sell their viewpoint, along with flashy websites and enough conspiracy to flavor the appeal. Plus it was always easier to convince someone that the data is wrong or the scientists are in on the lie, than to be upfront and say things are really bad and you'll have to change your way of living to make any difference.

I know this is more about the art of presentation, the same data shown a different way can be understood better. But that's why we have science communicators, to bridge the gap between scientists doing the work to get the data and comprehend it, and the public. We have less and less of those now. I realized the direction we were going when the major news channels got rid of their science sections. (Those news outlets changed a lot more later on too, not in a great way)