Resources to help navigate the world of climate denial and distrust
鈥淭o explain why and how some people reject scientific evidence, scientist and cartoonist John Cook created the character Cranky Uncle, the family member we all have who thinks he knows better than the world鈥檚 scientists.鈥 Practice for that difficult dialogue, and help that cranky uncle along!
Skeptical Science is a non-profit science education organization that seeks to raise public understanding of climate change by publishing information and resources. One of these important resources is an encyclopedic list of the most common climate myths, with evidence-based refutations for each one.
| Union of Concerned Scientists
鈥淚nstead of acknowledging the harmful effects of their products and committing to swift and deep reductions in global warming emissions, many of the world's largest fossil fuel companies have knowingly deceived the public about the climate science and policy.鈥 The Union of Concerned Scientists talks deception, greenwashing, and accountability among fossil fuel companies.
Why does climate disinformation travel faster & farther than facts? Avaaz unearths Facebook鈥檚 algorithms, which promote misunderstandings of federal climate proposals. This resource helps us see how climbing out from underneath disinformation is key in responding to the climate crisis. Published May 11, 2021
| BBC
鈥淎s climate change becomes a focus of the US election, energy companies stand accused of trying to downplay their contribution to global warming.鈥 This report gives a historic lesson on the manipulative tactics used by corrupt industries, such as tobacco and oil, to cloud the minds of the public. Author: Phoebe Keane, published September 20, 2020
The U.S. military understands and believes in the threat of climate change. 鈥淥ceanographer for the U.S. Navy, Rear Admiral David Titley, discusses the hot topic of climate change, and its impending ramifications on national security.鈥 [22:54]
| Phys.org
Emma Frances Bloomfield, an assistant professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, wants to understand the causes of climate skepticism. 鈥淜nowing the 鈥榳hy鈥 behind the denial can help those who are concerned about climate change communicate more effectively with those who question the science behind it.鈥 Author: Natalie Bruzda, published June 6, 2019
Jenny Brockie from SBS (an Australian Public Broadcast service) facilitates a conversation between climatologist 鈥嬧婼tephen Schneider and an audience of climate change doubters and deniers. 鈥淪cience is not about belief. Science is about evidence.鈥 [45:42]