During the Wikimania 2025 conference, the results of a scientific study were presented, focusing on a cross-language comparative analysis of Wikipedia articles on climate change. Using open datasets made it possible to examine article quality and compare their popularity across languages. For instance, an analysis of over one billion links between Wikipedia articles helped identify the most frequently cited entries in each language edition.
The study aimed to highlight differences in the availability, depth, and public interest in climate change information among various Wikipedia language communities. Several methods were applied to identify climate change–related articles: linking them to relevant Wikidata items, analyzing their membership in thematic categories, and mapping articles connected through networks of internal and external links. Combining these approaches allowed for the creation of a more complete and diverse dataset for further analysis.
Presentation recording:
By applying multiple metrics to assess both quality and popularity, the research identified information gaps, varying patterns of editorial engagement, and uneven levels of public interest across languages. These findings can contribute to a better understanding of the global information landscape on climate change and support efforts to ensure equal access to reliable, high-quality knowledge.
The presentation, titled “Climate Change Knowledge on Wikipedia: A Cross-Language Comparative Analysis”, was delivered on August 8, 2025, during the third day of Wikimania 2025. Authors of the research: Dr. Włodzimierz Lewoniewski, Prof. Dariusz Jemielniak.
Wikimania is an annual conference dedicated to all open knowledge projects run by the Wikimedia Foundation—Commons, MediaWiki, Meta-Wiki, Wikibooks, Wikidata, Wikinews, Wikipedia, Wikiquote, Wikisource, Wikispecies, Wikiversity, Wikivoyage, and Wiktionary. The event features presentations, discussions, meetups, training sessions, and workshops. Hundreds of volunteers and leaders of the Free Knowledge movement from around the world gather to discuss diverse topics, launch new projects and approaches, and exchange ideas. This year’s edition was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from August 6–9, 2025, in a hybrid format—both in-person and online—bringing together over 2,300 participants from 135 countries. Conference website: wikimania.wikimedia.org.
Sources: kie.ue.poznan.pl, ue.poznan.pl
Additional materials: wikimania2025.lewoniewski.info