This chapter explores the skepticism towards climate science and the influence of resource companies as factors that hindered progress in addressing climate change. It discusses the pressure placed on scientists to withhold knowledge and the emotional impact it had on them. The chapter also highlights the challenges faced in making progress, including the refusal of some leaders to accept the science behind climate change.
Science Weekly revisits episode two of this 2023 mini-series from Full Story. In part two of Weight of the world, three Australian climate scientists reveal the professional and personal toll of their predictions. Lesley Hughes tells us about the axing of Australia’s Climate Commission, a group tasked with educating the public about climate science and the need to cut carbon emissions; Graeme Pearman talks of the pushback from government and industry; and Ove Hoegh-Guldberg speaks of the personal attacks and death threats that followed his warnings. All three express their disbelief that meaningful action didn’t follow the science, with Pearman saying he was ‘naive’ to think it would. Help support our independent journalism at
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