Origins of Climate Denial: Aggressive Think Tanks, Shouty Pundits, and a New Religious Argument
Feb 24, 2023
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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.
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.
The Fossil Fuel Industry's Approach to Climate Change
The episode explores the fossil fuel industry's approach to shaping narratives on climate change. They engage in social influence campaigns, utilizing think tanks, media strategies, and pro-oil propaganda to reshape public opinion. The campaigns aim to discredit climate science, create doubt, and associate conservative identity with skepticism towards climate action. These efforts have been effective in mobilizing certain demographics, particularly white conservative men with less education, to reject climate science and perpetuate conspiracy theories.
The Link Between Conservative Policies, Religion, and Climate Change
Conservative strategies to quash environmental initiatives, including action on climate change, have involved connecting conservative policies to religion. In the 1980s and 90s, the argument shifted to the notion that fossil fuels were a divine gift meant to be utilized, aligning with the idea of manifest destiny. This theological argument, not a scientific one, reinforces the belief that using oil and coal is part of God's plan. This ideological connection between religion, conservative politics, and climate change is intended to solidify opposition to environmental regulation.
A new peer-reviewed study in the journal Science shows that not only did Exxon scientists suspect climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels was a growing problem that would lead to crisis if nothing changed, but they were terrifyingly accurate in their modeling and predictions. Alongside this special re-broadcast of Season 1 of Drilled, all about the origins of climate denial, we speak with the study's lead author Geoffrey Supran about its importance.
In this episode, we look at how oil companies and their public relations firms shifted culture, influencing everything from civil discourse to how religious groups viewed the issue of climate change.