social media
Newsletter
Credit: Jakub Junek/Big Stock Photo
At least 30 Reform UK candidates doubt climate change
At least 30 Reform UK candidates have questioned human-caused global warming on social media, according to a Guardian analysis.
In short:
- Many candidates label climate change warnings as a "hoax" or "scam," promoting conspiracy theories involving "global elites" and "the Illuminati."
- Reform UK's only MP, Lee Anderson and the party chair, Richard Tice, also express skepticism about the impact of decarbonization on global heating.
- The party's election contract pledges to eliminate the UK's net-zero commitments, reflecting a broader denial of human-caused climate disruption.
Key quote:
“This is a scientifically illiterate approach. People across the country are suffering from climate change and these candidates are not suitable to represent them.”
— Bob Ward, the policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics.
Why this matters:
Reform UK's climate change denial could hinder effective climate action in the next parliament. Their stance reflects a growing trend of skepticism on the political right, potentially undermining efforts to address the climate crisis.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Credit: Øyvind Holmstad/Flickr/
Opinion: Fossil fuel industry obstructs renewable energy progress
Despite renewable energy being more affordable and prevalent, the fossil fuel industry is using misinformation and lobbying to hinder its adoption.
In short:
- Fossil fuel interests are using tactics like lobbying and spreading misinformation to prevent the adoption of cheaper renewable energy.
- Renewables now produce 30% of the world's electricity, yet fossil fuel companies falsely claim they are unreliable and harmful.
- Misleading narratives and political donations are used to sway public opinion and policy against renewable energy.
Why this matters:
Fossil fuel misinformation delays the transition to renewable energy, which is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. Armed with deep pockets and political influence, those in the fossil fuel industry are deploying strategies aimed at slowing the transition to cleaner energy. This includes spreading misinformation about the reliability and efficiency of renewables, and casting doubt on the urgency of climate change.
Keep reading...Show less
Newsletter
Photo by Alexander Shatov on Unsplash
Living on Earth: The new climate denial
A recent report finds that social media platforms like YouTube are amplifying and sometimes profiting from new forms of climate denial that falsely claim it’s too late to act on the climate crisis.
China sows disinformation about Hawaii fires using new techniques
Beijing’s influence campaign using artificial intelligence is a rapid change in tactics, researchers from Microsoft and other organizations say.
Newsletter
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Falsehoods follow close behind this summer’s natural disasters
As natural disasters and extreme environmental conditions became more commonplace around the world this summer, scientists pointed repeatedly to a shared driver: climate change. Conspiracy theorists pointed to anything but.
As fires and floods rage, Facebook and Twitter are missing in action
Natural disasters in Canada and California highlight how Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk have pulled back from the news, complicating emergency responses.
Big Stock Photo
The mystery of the social media disinformation war on plant-based meat
Wellness influencers, keto dieters, and the anti–seed oil crowd have been recirculating attacks on plant-based meat on Instagram and TikTok. Who's behind it?
ORIGINAL REPORTING
MOST POPULAR
CLIMATE
