Wednesday 7 August 2024

Climate change deniers weigh in on politics

A new report by policy institute Center for American Progress finds that 123 members of the current American Congress are climate deniers.

The report shows that climate deniers in Congress have received more than $50 million (£40 million) in lifetime campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry.

Prominent politician and climate denier, Senator Ted Cruz said in 2018: 'Of course, the climate is changing. The climate has been changing since the dawn of time. The climate will change as long as we have a planet Earth.'

Many deniers use tactics such as referring to climate activism as alarmism, spreading misinformation and deferring climate action to other countries.

Climate deniers in other countries also hold positions of power.

According to the LSE report on Reform UK, the party and its leaders often spread misinformation about climate change.

A document published by Reform UK called Our Contract With You says: 'Net zero means reducing man-made CO2 emissions to stop climate change. It can’t.

'Climate change has happened for millions of years, before man- made CO2 emissions, and will always change. We are better to adapt to warming, rather than pretend we can stop it.'

Moreover, the Party’s chairman, Richard Tice, told the BBC: 'Actually, what we need to do with climate change – of course, we all care about the environment of the planet – we need to adapt to it.

'The idea that you can stop the power of the sun or volcanoes is simply ludicrous. Anyone who thinks you can, frankly, you’re misinformed.'

A 2019 study by think-tank, adelphi reported that seven out of 21 right-wing populist parties deny the scientific consensus on climate change and its causes.

According to LSE, when politicians deny climate change and spread misinformation on the subject, it undermines public trust and democracy.