Climate deniers don't deny climate change any more

Summary

This video discusses the evolution of climate change discourse, highlighting a shift from outright denial to 'new denial,' where individuals claim that climate solutions are ineffective and humanity is doomed. The video explores how misinformation, especially on platforms like YouTube, contributes to climate apathy, discouraging meaningful action. It contrasts climate doomsayers with pessimists, urging viewers to remain hopeful and proactive. The speaker emphasizes the importance of scientific literacy and calls for continued efforts to combat climate change, while also recommending resources for enhancing personal understanding of scientific concepts.

Takeaways

• 🦠 Conan the Bacterium, known for surviving extreme conditions, couldn't handle the toxicity of online climate change discussions.
• 🌍 Climate change discussions are highly polarized, with scientists on one side advocating for urgent action and skeptics on the other downplaying the crisis.
• 📉 Over time, there's been a shift from outright climate denial to 'climate doomism,' which argues that no solutions will work, and humanity is doomed.
• 📊 A recent study showed that 'new denial' claims, such as clean energy being ineffective or harmful, have increased significantly in climate-skeptic YouTube channels.
• 🎯 The 'new denial' movement aims to foster climate despair, making people believe that efforts to combat climate change are futile.
• 😟 Climate doomism is growing, especially among younger generations, with many feeling that their individual actions won't make a difference.
• 📚 The speaker distinguishes between climate pessimism, which encourages action despite difficult circumstances, and climate doomism, which advocates for giving up.
• ⚠️ The rise of climate doomism is a result of misinformation campaigns, often funded by groups that fear government regulations on climate policies.
• 🌱 Despite the challenges, the speaker insists that solutions like renewable energy and government action can still make a significant impact.
• 💡 The video encourages scientific literacy and personal responsibility, urging people not to fall into the trap of climate doomism and to support effective climate solutions.

Q & A

What is *Conan the Bacterium* and why is it mentioned in the script?

Conan the Bacterium is a nickname for *Deinococcus radiodurans*, known as the toughest life form on Earth due to its ability to survive in extreme environments. It is mentioned in the script as a humorous way to highlight how even the toughest organisms can't handle the toxicity of online discussions, especially around climate change.

What is the shift in climate change discussions mentioned in the script?

The script discusses a shift from climate denial, where people claimed that climate change wasn't real or wasn't caused by humans, to climate doomism, where people believe that even though climate change is real, nothing can be done to stop it.

What is 'new denial' in the context of climate change, as discussed in the script?

New denial refers to claims that, while climate change may be happening, its effects will be beneficial, our solutions (like renewable energy) won’t work, or climate science is unreliable. This type of denial has become more prominent in recent years, replacing older forms of denial that rejected climate change outright.

How has the frequency of climate denial comments on YouTube changed over time?

According to the script, the frequency of comments denying climate change outright has decreased, while comments expressing climate doomism—that nothing we do will make a difference—have become more frequent over the past two years.

What impact is climate doomism having on climate action?

Climate doomism is leading to apathy, reducing ambition in climate policies, and dissuading people from supporting efforts to combat climate change. This is a more dangerous form of denial because it fosters a sense of hopelessness and inaction at a critical time for climate action.

What is the role of misinformation in the rise of climate doomism?

Misinformation, often spread by the same groups that once denied climate change, is now fueling climate doomism by promoting the idea that climate solutions are too expensive, ineffective, or harmful. This creates doubt and discourages people from supporting necessary climate policies.

How does the script describe the differences between climate pessimism and climate doomism?

The script distinguishes pessimism, which acknowledges the severity of the climate crisis but encourages action to mitigate it, from doomism, which claims that nothing can be done and discourages any effort to address the crisis.

What strategies have climate skeptics used to prevent climate action?

According to the script, climate skeptics first denied the existence of climate change, and when that became untenable, they shifted to casting doubt on the effectiveness of climate solutions. This strategy is designed to prevent new legislation and maintain the status quo.

How does the report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate relate to the script's argument?

The report shows that climate denial on YouTube has evolved, with new denial claims becoming more prominent. It highlights that many YouTube channels spreading misinformation about climate change are now pushing the narrative that climate solutions won’t work, reinforcing the rise of climate doomism.

What is the script's main message about the future of climate action?

The script emphasizes that while the climate crisis is serious, there is still hope. Solutions exist, and it is crucial to continue fighting for policies that can mitigate the effects of climate change. Giving up, as climate doomism suggests, is not only unhelpful but dangerous.