misinformation campaign
Credit: Justice & Witness Ministries, UCC/United Church of Christ/Jessie Palatucci/Flickr
Politicians often underestimate public support for climate action, limiting policy ambition
Elected officials often misjudge how much the public supports climate policies, which can lead to fewer clean energy projects and weaker climate action.
In short:
- Recent studies have shown that politicians have a misconception about the popularity of ambitious climate action, deeming it much less popular than it really is
- By underestimating public support for climate policies, they slow down crucial environmental initiatives.
- This disconnect can be tied to several reasons, including how fossil fuel interests often use misleading tactics to influence lawmakers' perceptions of public opinion.
Key quote:
“There’s this enormous effort by the industry to shape what politicians think the public wants.”
— Matto Mildenberger, political science professor, UC Santa Barbara.
Why this matters:
Despite a growing number of people demanding serious steps to combat climate change, many elected officials — especially those with deep pockets from fossil fuel interests — still believe climate action is a fringe issue. This misperception isn’t just frustrating; it keeps meaningful legislation from passing and lets big polluters off the hook. Read more: House Speaker Mike Johnson’s climate change playbook — deny the science, take the funding.
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A new book argues the right way to discuss climate change
A new book by Genevieve Guenther asserts that using fossil fuel industry language undermines climate action.
In short:
- Genevieve Guenther's book, The Language of Climate Politics, claims fossil fuel talking points have permeated climate discussions, skewing public perception and action.
- Guenther identifies six problematic terms: alarmist, costs, growth, "India and China," innovation, and resilience, suggesting alternatives to better frame climate discourse.
- Despite potential backlash, Guenther emphasizes the need for precise language to effectively advocate for emission reductions and broader climate action.
Key quote:
"To secure a livable future, one thing we will need to do is dismantle and reframe the terms dominating the language of climate politics."
— Genevieve Guenther, Author
Why this matters:
Accurate climate communication can help mobilize public support and drive policy change, ensuring that discussions highlight the urgency around reducing fossil fuel emissions and mitigating climate impacts. Read more: Greenwashing’s medieval age.
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UN chief calls for ban on fossil fuel advertising
UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for a ban on fossil fuel advertising to combat climate change, labeling coal, oil, and gas corporations as "godfathers of climate chaos."
In short:
- Guterres compared fossil fuel advertising to tobacco ads, suggesting both should be banned due to their harmful impacts.
- New studies show global warming is accelerating, with each of the past 12 months setting temperature records.
- The UN lacks legal means to enforce the ban, but Guterres' call boosts campaign efforts against fossil fuel sponsorships.
Key quote:
"We must directly confront those in the fossil fuel industry who have shown relentless zeal for obstructing progress – over decades."
— António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Why this matters:
Limiting fossil fuel advertising could help reduce public deception and promote cleaner energy alternatives, crucial for mitigating climate change's health and environmental impacts. Read more: Greenwashing’s medieval age.
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Oil companies leverage academic partnerships to influence climate change action
Oil companies are strategically partnering with universities to influence climate change research and policy, recently revealed documents show.
In short:
- Major oil companies have donated millions to prestigious universities to shape research and gain favorable insights for their business interests.
- Congressional investigators released documents showing that these partnerships were designed to influence perceptions of oil and gas companies in climate debates.
- Critics argue that the industry is leveraging its academic relationships to minimize its responsibility for climate change and avoid meaningful emission reductions.
Key quote:
“The evidence uncovered by Oversight Committee Democrats shows that Big Oil has run campaigns to confuse and mislead the public while working unceasingly to lock down a fossil fuel future.”
— Jamie Raskin, Democratic Representative
Why this matters:
Oil companies are trying to control the narrative around climate change by shaping academic research to align with their interests, undermining independent science and influencing policy. Read more: How the “Halliburton Loophole” lets fracking companies pollute water with no oversight.
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Plastics and education: a critical conversation unfolds in schools
Petrochemical conglomerates take to the classroom in a concerted effort to focus responsibility for plastic waste on the consumer while absolving industry.
In short:
- Eve Vitale, from the Society of Plastics Engineers Foundation, is touring schools to promote a positive view of plastics, arguing against its environmental backlash and advocating for better recycling and personal responsibility.
- The plastics industry, backed by fossil fuel companies, is facing regulatory challenges and opposition from environmental groups and educators pushing for a reduction in plastic use, especially single-use items.
- A notable counter-effort includes PragerU's classroom videos in several states, promoting plastics and challenging prevailing environmental narratives, amidst broader debates over plastics' sustainability and recycling effectiveness.
Key quote:
"This is a huge fight for the future of our kids. The industry wants to lay the pollution problem on individual consumers; meanwhile, it is impossible for individuals to fix this."
— Margaret Galbraith, program coordinator.
Why this matters:
The intense tug-of-war over plastics and shaping young minds is part of a broader conflict between environmental sustainability and industrial interests as petrochemical giants seek to ensure a future of fossil fuel dependency.
Related: Chemical recycling “a dangerous deception” for solving plastic pollution
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US climate scientist’s defamation case over online attacks finally comes to trial
Michael Mann alleges, in lawsuit first brought in 2012, that attacks on his work by climate denialists amount to defamation.
UN
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| Copyright: Anton_Medvedev |
Saudi Arabia focuses on emissions from wind and solar over oil
The kingdom is elevating the use of fans and filters to pull carbon dioxide out of the sky. But its motives are under scrutiny at global climate talks.
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