Naomi Oreskes, a leading historian of science from Harvard University and author of 'Merchants of Doubt,' unpacks the pervasive issue of climate denial. She explores the historical ties between funding sources and scientific integrity, revealing how propaganda shapes public perceptions of climate science. Oreskes draws parallels between tactics used by climate deniers and those of the tobacco industry, emphasizing the need for accountability in addressing climate change. Ultimately, she highlights the power of love and compassion in inspiring collective environmental action.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Cheney's Denial
Vice President Dick Cheney claimed a lack of scientific consensus on climate change's cause.
Naomi Oreskes knew this was false, prompting her to write a paper revealing the existing consensus.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Backlash and Collaboration
After publishing her paper, Oreskes faced backlash, including hate mail and death threats.
This led her to discuss the issue with colleagues, including Eric Conway.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Discovering a Pattern
Eric Conway connected Oreskes' experience to similar attacks on scientists like Sherry Rowland.
This realization led them to investigate further and eventually co-author Merchants of Doubt.
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In this haunting and provocative work, Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway dramatize the science of climate change through a fictional account written by a historian in the year 2393. The book explores how Western civilization failed to respond to the threat of climate change despite full awareness of its consequences. It highlights the self-serving interests of the 'carbon combustion complex' and the ideological hegemony of neoliberalism that hindered necessary government regulations and actions. The narrative depicts a world ravaged by soaring temperatures, rising sea levels, and catastrophic events such as the Great Collapse of 2093, which led to the disintegration of the West Antarctica Ice Sheet and a complete reshuffling of the global order.
The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market
The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market
Erik Conway
Naomi Oreskes
In 'The Big Myth', Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway delve into the history of market fundamentalism, detailing how business elites, trade associations, and media allies have shaped American orthodoxy to favor unfettered markets over government regulation. The authors document campaigns to rewrite textbooks, combat unions, and defend child labor, and they analyze the roles of economists like Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman. The book argues that this ideology has led to significant societal issues, including the housing crisis, the opioid epidemic, climate destruction, and a poor response to the Covid-19 pandemic. By understanding this history, the authors aim to inspire a future where markets serve rather than stifle democracy.
Merchants of doubt
Naomi Oreskes
In 'Merchants of Doubt', historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway expose how a loose-knit group of high-level scientists, with deep connections in politics and industry, ran effective campaigns to mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge over four decades. The book highlights how the same individuals repeatedly denied the truth of studies linking smoking to lung cancer, coal smoke to acid rain, and CFCs to the ozone hole, all while promoting an ideology of free market fundamentalism aided by a compliant media.
Propaganda
Edward Bernays
In 'Propaganda,' Edward Bernays lays out his vision for using propaganda to influence various aspects of society, including government, politics, art, science, and education. The book discusses the 'conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses' as an essential element in democratic society. Bernays argues that this manipulation is carried out by an 'invisible government' of professional propagandists who shape public thoughts, values, and responses. The book explores the psychological and social science basis of propaganda and its application in different fields, highlighting its potential for both beneficial and detrimental uses[2][3][5].
Happy New Year from all of us here at Cleaning Up. This week we’re bringing you one from our archive of almost 200 episodes. It’s a conversation Bryony Worthington had with Naomi Oreskes in October 2023, her very first episode as a co-host for Cleaning Up.
Naomi Oreskes is the Henry Charles Lea Professor of the History of Science and Affiliated Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University. A world-renowned earth scientist, historian and public speaker, she is the author of the best-selling book, Merchants of Doubt, and a leading voice on the role of science in society and the role of disinformation in blocking climate action, a topic that feels more relevant than ever.
Please enjoy, and we’ll be back with Season 14 of Cleaning Up on January 8th.
Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change 
