THE LANDSCAPE OF CLIMATE CHANGE DISINFORMATION: A DENIALIST PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29038/2524-2679-2024-01-102-122Keywords:
greenwashing, climate disinformation, climate sceptics, climate deniers, corporate social responsibility, PR firmsAbstract
The author uses the metaphor of a ‘climate change disinformation landscape’ to emphasise the multifaceted nature of the climate change disinformation problem as a complex information system with many interacting variables. This concept encompasses actors spreading disinformation through tradi- tional media and online think tank platforms, politicians and other actors with different attitudes towards the scientific facts about climate change. The analysis of scientific sources allowed the author to find that the public’s trust in scientists is highest; television and online information are seen as the place where respondents see most climate disinformation; political parties and governments are identified as sources of false and misleading disinformation; and the media are seen as influencing the decisions and actions of large corporations on climate change, government policies and public attitudes.
The article analyses the actors who reject the scientific consensus on climate change by actively spreading disinformation about global warming. They are known as “climate sceptics” or “climate deniers”. They also include PR firms and other public relations structures that work with climate-damaging corporations, betraying their own idea of corporate social responsibility. Large oil, gas, coal and other companies are the main clients of PR firms, and PR is used to manipulate public opinion, maintain the authority of cor- porations in the climate debate, protect their interests and distract the public from real problems.
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