A recent study conducted by the Center for Countering Digital Hate has shed light on a new form of climate denial that is gaining traction on social media platforms like YouTube. While climate deniers used to reject the idea that human activity is causing climate change, they have now shifted their focus to casting doubt on the effectiveness of climate solutions. The report highlights how these climate denial videos on YouTube not only spread disinformation but also generate profits for both the climate deniers and the platform itself.
The study, which involved analyzing thousands of hours of YouTube videos produced by prominent climate deniers, revealed a significant decrease in claims denying anthropogenic climate change and a surge in claims disputing the efficacy of climate solutions. The report categorizes these new forms of denial into three major families: claims that climate solutions won’t work, claims that the impacts of global warming are beneficial or harmless, and claims that climate science and the climate movement are unreliable.
The CEO and founder of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Imran Ahmed, explains that this shift in climate denial tactics is driven by the fact that solutions to climate change have become more sophisticated, and public awareness of the dangers of climate change has increased. The opponents of climate action are now focused on undermining the consensus on climate solutions to protect the interests of the oil and gas industry.
These climate denial videos on YouTube employ various strategies to make their disinformation seem legitimate. They often bring on “experts,” create an appearance of academic neutrality, use visuals and graphs, and cherry-pick data that is not representative of the whole. This toxic mix of lies and truth makes it challenging for viewers to discern the truth amidst the lies. Moreover, the fast-paced nature of these videos overwhelms fact-checking efforts.
One concerning aspect highlighted by the study is how these climate denial videos appeal to a sense of “doomerism” among young people. By spreading the message that there is no hope and nothing can be done to mitigate climate change, these videos discourage young people from taking action. Acceptance of the old form of climate denial is low among young people, but the acceptance of the new form of denial is increasing. This shift in acceptance calls for a refocusing of efforts by the climate advocacy movement to emphasize the viability of climate solutions and provide hope for a sustainable future.
The study also reveals the financial incentives behind these climate denial videos. YouTube places ads on these videos, generating millions of dollars in profits for both the platform and the content creators. The engagement and economic rewards these videos receive fuel the spread of disinformation about climate change. While the initial study focused on YouTube, it is likely that similar trends exist on other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Imran Ahmed emphasizes that addressing this issue is not about censorship but about holding platforms accountable for the content they promote and profit from. He suggests that governments can play a role in mandating transparency from these platforms regarding their algorithms, content enforcement rules, and advertising practices. With more transparency, advertisers and users can make informed decisions and take action against climate denial content. YouTube, for example, has a policy that prohibits ads from running on content that contradicts the scientific consensus on climate change, but the study found that this policy is not adequately enforced.
In conclusion, the study from the Center for Countering Digital Hate highlights the rise of a new form of climate denial that focuses on undermining the effectiveness of climate solutions. These climate denial videos on YouTube not only spread disinformation but also generate substantial profits. Addressing this issue requires transparency from social media platforms, accountability for the content they promote, and renewed efforts by the climate advocacy movement to emphasize the viability of climate solutions and provide hope for a sustainable future.
