Damages
Origins of Climate Denial: Aggressive Think Tanks, Shouty Pundits, and a New Religious Argument
Feb 24, 2023
Geoffrey Supran, lead author of the peer-reviewed study on Exxon scientists and climate change modeling, discusses the origins of climate denial. Topics include Exxon's accurate predictions, legal defense against scientific arguments, aggressive think tanks, shouty pundits, transportation emissions, online privacy, discrediting of climate science, and the role of conservative talk shows in promoting climate denial.
24:01
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Quick takeaways
- Exxon's response to the study's revelations of their accurate climate change predictions in the 1970s and 80s was dismissive, relying on spin and legal diversion rather than addressing the findings directly.
- The fossil fuel industry has employed social influence campaigns, using think tanks, media strategies, and pro-oil propaganda to shape public opinion and discredit climate science, particularly targeting white conservative men with less education.
Deep dives
Exxon's Response to Climate Change Predictions
Exxon's response to the recent study revealing their accurate climate change predictions from the 1970s and 80s has been largely muted. They have issued a blanket statement asserting that everyone is wrong, and have pointed to a 2019 judges' decision about an unrelated accounting issue as their only counter-argument. This response aligns with their pattern of defending against scientific evidence with spin and legal diversion. However, the study's methodology is simple and conclusive, directly comparing Exxon's predictions with historical temperatures, leaving little room for criticism.
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