Attacks on climate scientists erode public trust in climate science, hindering public conviction.
Fossil fuel companies have a history of funding misinformation campaigns, evolving to greenwashing tactics.
Deep dives
Types of Climate Misinformation
Climate misinformation takes the form of intentional attacks on climate scientists and science, aiming to erode public trust in climate science. Research conducted by John Cook identified this trend in blogs and conservative think tanks, highlighting the tactic of attacking climate science to hinder public conviction. Alex Stinson from the Wikimedia Foundation discussed how misinformation spreads in Wikipedia, emphasizing the challenge of keeping content updated and accurate across various languages.
Origins of Climate Disinformation
Stella Levanteze delves into the history of climate disinformation, tracing it back to the 1970s when fossil fuel companies initiated campaigns to hinder climate policies for economic gain. These companies utilized funding, false experts, and think tanks to perpetuate misinformation, leading to what is dubbed as the 'climate denial machine'. The tactic has evolved to greenwashing efforts, where fossil fuel companies promote oil and gas as solutions rather than denying climate change outright.
Impact of Climate Misinformation
Climate misinformation affects not only public perception but also influences climate policies, leading to delays in taking necessary action. The fossil fuel industry's strategies include greenwashing advertisements to mislead consumers, showcasing their green initiatives while downplaying their fossil fuel activities. Social media accelerates misinformation spread due to algorithms favoring engagement over accuracy, creating challenges in combating the rapid dissemination of false information.
Living Planet is a podcast and radio program from Germany’s international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW). Hosted by Charli Shield and Sam Baker, each week Living Planet reports on environment stories from around the world.
In this episode of Living Planet, host Sam Baker speaks with three experts on climate disinformation about how factually inaccurate and misleading information travels around the web. Climate journalist Stella Levantesi, communication researcher John Cook and Wikimedia strategist Alex Stinson participated in this engaging round-table, which originally was broadcast as a live discussion.