6 Denialist Arguments About Climate Change That You Should Clarify

6 Denialist Arguments

About Climate Change

That You Should Clarify

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As political leaders around the world discuss the agreements needed to reduce the volume of greenhouse gasses, there is a problem that has been little talked about: misinformation about climate change.

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By Roberto R. Díaz Blanco

It is not just the climate change denial conspiracy theories that circulate through messaging applications where they have found their very convenient echo chambers.

The British newspaper The Guardian recently exposed how Fox Weather, the Fox network channel dedicated to information about the climate, constantly misinforms in its reports: it does not mention the increase in the temperature of the planet as a cause associated with tornadoes , hurricanes, floods, forest fires and snowfalls that frequently affect different regions of the world.

Misinformation about climate change can be even stickier than anti-vaccination demonstrations against COVID-19 in the streets.

According to a study by Arizona State University, even a little exposure to 'fake news' about global warming can profoundly affect a person's beliefs about it.

Furthermore, climate change disinformation tactics mutate, evolve and change surprisingly quickly.

• But what are the arguments of climate change deniers? 

Professor Mike Rogerson of the University of Hull, has identified at least six:

1. Climate change is part of a natural cycle: 

"Yes, it is true that there are natural cycles. But the changes in the last 40 years are too big and too fast, compared to the records of previous cycles in history." 

2. Climate change is not bad, life will find a way to adapt: 

"Ok, for starters, stop using the quotes from the movie 'Jurassic Park' as a scientific argument. The truth is that climate change is putting great ecological stress on our environment." 

3. If global warming is real, why does it rain so much?: 

"The hotter the planet is, the more humid it will be. Recent research from the University of Hull into Libyan weather patterns over the last 10,000 years has shown this to be true, an increase in precipitation is accompanied by an increase in the average annual temperature."

4. The models used to measure climate change are unreliable:

 "The models are experiments, not oracles. But they are the same models that predict our daily weather and, apart from the occasional unexpected shower, they do not predict snow in the summer. In fact , the first weather prediction was created in 1901".

5. There is no scientific consensus on whether climate change is real or not: 

"In an effort to appear unbiased, deniers often point out that there are scientists who don't believe in global warming. But that doesn't mean the scientific community is split 50/50 on climate change. In reality, it's more like 97/ 3". 

6. It's all part of a grand global conspiracy: 

"Whether it's scientists lying to win big research grants, the illuminati, or aliens... There are dozens of outlandish conspiracies as to why reports of change can't be trusted." climate. But beyond the ridiculous thing is to come to think that almost all the scientists of the world try to keep a great secret".

• Necessary Media Literacy:

Audiences bear a significant amount of responsibility as well. In this regard, media literacy, like any other anti-disinformation technique, is critical. Emanuel Vincent, the founder of the specialized fact-checking portal Climate Feedback, has three particular suggestions:

1. Investigate the website: 

Who is really saying anything on the subject? Pay special attention to who you are writing to. Is he really a journalist or a blogger? Is it a news outlet that has a clear bias?

2. Check the sources: 

If there are no sources, or if the sources are just opinions or statements from someone who doesn't know about the topic, that's a red flag. Can you check the credibility of the sources by checking them?

3. Be critical: 

Look at the structure of the argument and if it is supported by sources. Is the article up to date or old? Are the claims based on peer-reviewed articles? Ask yourself who has a stake in what you are reading.

• Final Notes

Given these arguments, it is necessary to reflect on the responsibility of journalism and the strategies that the media can undertake to combat misinformation on climate change and ensure rigorous and quality reporting on an ongoing basis. 

We need to communicate the human dimensions of the problem, informing and encouraging debate from an ethical perspective on the impacts of climate change on health, the economy, access to water, food security and migratory flows.

In addition, it is necessary to boost advertising consistent with the corporate social commitment policies of companies and promote compliance with the Code of Good Practice for the use of environmental arguments in their communications and disseminate the remarkable scientific research being generated in universities and research centers worldwide.

It is very clear that social media platforms have an enormous responsibility and influence, as well as press agencies at the service of corporations and countries that pressure the UN to oppose political wills that seek to reach a universal consensus to reduce the rate of global warming.