Origins of Climate Denial: Exploiting Scientists' Kryptonite—Certainty
Feb 14, 2023
auto_awesome
Geoffrey Supran, lead author of a study on the origins of climate denial, discusses how oil companies exploited weaknesses in science communication and scientists' refusal to be certain. The podcast explores manipulation of scientific consensus, the tactics used by oil companies, and the industry's strategy for victory in climate denial.
ExxonMobil scientists knew about climate change while publicly claiming uncertainty, challenging their messaging of scientific uncertainty.
Oil companies, including ExxonMobil, exploited vulnerabilities in science communication and promoted narratives that cast doubt on climate change concerns.
Deep dives
ExxonMobil's Knowledge and Misrepresentation of Climate Change
The podcast discusses a recent peer-reviewed study that reveals how much ExxonMobil scientists knew about climate change while publicly claiming uncertainty. The study's lead author, Jeffrey Supran, explains that ExxonMobil weaponized the inherent uncertainty of science against the public, who had little understanding of its nature. This study conclusively challenges ExxonMobil's messaging of scientific uncertainty and highlights the significant role the company played in shaping scientific consensus.
The Manipulation of Science Communication and Journalism
The podcast explores how oil companies, including ExxonMobil, influenced science communication and journalism to cast doubt on climate change. It highlights their strategy of exploiting vulnerabilities in science communication and promoting narratives that portrayed climate change concerns as liberal ideologies. The podcast also emphasizes the industry's successful promotion of individual responsibility as a solution, deflecting attention from systemic changes and downplaying their own role in creating the demand for fossil fuels.
Mixed Messages and Media Manipulation
The podcast exposes the oil industry's effective strategy of using mixed messages to create confusion and doubt around climate change. It discusses how the industry strategically presented partial truths and took statements out of context to appear reasonable, trustworthy, and not denying climate change. The podcast also critiques the New York Times Magazine's recent feature on climate change, highlighting its alignment with industry narratives and its depiction of climate change as a collective failure and individual problem, rather than addressing systemic issues.
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 and Exxon's role in it, we speak with the study's lead author Geoffrey Supran about its importance.
In this episode, a look at how oil companies exploited various weaknesses in science, namely scientists' tendency toward not prioritizing or valuing good communication skills, and their absolute refusal to be certain about anything.