97% of scientists agree that climate change is anthropogenic (caused by human activity). Yet, only 50% of the population thinks that if climate change is happening, it’s mostly human-caused according to Yale and George Mason University. So, how is this possible? Deception…or just really good public relations (PR) agents.
So, yep if you don’t believe that climate change is anthropogenic, you’ve been tricked by excellent PR agents. Now, before you get too upset, let me describe the mind-games.
This is a practice that has been occurring for years now. The cigarette industry tricked people into believing smoking was okay, the furniture industry tricked people in terms of fire retardants, and the gasoline industry has and still is tricking the public.
Many big gasoline companies hire excellent public relations agents who act as though they’re separate from the company. Their job is to simply cast doubt on the public when it comes to climate change issues.
So, they go out and say, “it may be, or it may not be”, “we don’t know for sure”, and “there’s not enough evidence” on the topic of climate change. Many of those listening totally buy into it and are left uninformed.
ExxonMobil, for example, has a long history of funding climate change disinformation groups. According to Greenpeace, ExxonMobil has and continues to fund climate deniers. This includes $300,000 to Dr. Willie Soon, a climate denier, between 2005 and 2010.
Obviously, no one can know anything for sure. However, there is significant evidence pointing to the fact that climate change is real and is happening! National Aeronautics and Space Association (NASA) has contributed to this evidence with data showing the rise of carbon dioxide levels.
Yet, PR agents are removing the data from the public’s eye and shifting the focus to politics. Therefore, the discussion is centered around costs and employment instead of the hard-scientific data!
Though this phenomenon has been happening for years now, it can be changed. Yet, it can only be changed if scientists become better communicators.
Scientists have enough data on global warming to make almost any audience believe them. However, they’re not currently presenting it in an engaging way.
Scientists currently come off as boring and confusing. This is why they’re being beat out by those who have very little science backgrounds, but excellent communication backgrounds.
Scientists must learn to utilize blogs, websites, twitter, television channels, and newspapers to reach a wide range of audiences. But where they display the information is only as valuable as the information itself.
They must reframe climate change as a major public health threat. This means emphasizing the necessity in taking action to protect what we love. In addition, they must tell stories that the audience can connect to.
Unfortunately, ExxonMobil’s strategy is working. Most people drive cars powered by gasoline which in return, leaves these companies with high profits. It’s important to expose the deceiving that’s occurring within the oil industry and specifically ExxonMobil. With regards to the future, environmental science majors must learn the same communication skills as business majors!
Works Cited
“Climate Change Evidence: How Do We Know?” NASA, NASA, 4 Dec. 2018, climate.nasa.gov/evidence/.
“Exxon’s Climate Denial History: A Timeline.” Greenpeace International, http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/global-warming/exxon-and-the-oil-industry-knew-about-climate-change/exxons-climate-denial-history-a-timeline/.
Kenner, Robert, director. Merchants of Doubt. Sony Pictures Classics, 2014.
(The photograph was posted to Flickr by Meredith Nutting and can be found here. Licensing to this photograph can be found here. )
Climate Change 