Communicating Climate Science & Countering Disinformation CLEAN Climate Workshop Communicating Climate Science & Countering Disinformation John Cook

“If you can't explain your physics to a barmaid, it is probably not very good physics.” ERNST RUTHERFORD

iPhone App “The pocket-sized miracle that you always wish you had during a climate change conversation gone awry.” World Wildlife Fund http://sks.to/iphone

“A major contribution to the growing body of well-reasoned analyses of climate change denial.” Riley Dunlap, Professor of Sociology, Oklahoma State University “The best available guide to recognizing and combating climate change denial.” Spencer Weart, author of The Discovery of Global Warming http://sks.to/denial

Roadblocks to understanding climate change

Roadblocks to understanding climate change External Roadblocks Disinformation campaign

Roadblocks to understanding climate change External Roadblocks Disinformation campaign Mainstream media

Roadblocks to understanding climate change External Roadblocks Disinformation campaign Mainstream media Internal Roadblocks Ideology

Roadblocks to understanding climate change External Roadblocks Disinformation campaign Mainstream media Internal Roadblocks Ideology Finite Pool of Worry

Roadblocks to understanding climate change External Roadblocks Disinformation campaign Mainstream media Internal Roadblocks Ideology Finite Pool of Worry Aversion to doom & gloom

The Psychology of Climate Change Human psychology is not rocket science…

The Psychology of Climate Change Human psychology is not rocket science… …it’s much more complicated.

Schwarz et al 2007 The “backfire effect” – trying to debunk a myth can reinforce it in people’s minds

Schwarz et al 2007 The “backfire effect” – trying to debunk a myth can reinforce it in people’s minds Solution: emphasis on facts rather than myth

Example: Guide to Skepticism http://sks.to/guide

Seifert 2002 Most effective way to dislodge misinformation is to replace it with an alternative narrative

Seifert 2002 Most effective way to dislodge misinformation is to replace it with an alternative narrative People think in stories, narratives & metaphors

Debunking a Climate Myth “Nature produces nearly all of the carbon dioxide in the air. Human beings produce point 001 percent of the carbon dioxide in the air.” ALAN JONES

5 characteristics of denial Diethelm & McKee 2007 All movements that deny a scientific consensus have 5 characteristics in common

5 characteristics of denial Cherry Picking

5 characteristics of denial Cherry Picking Fake Experts

The OISM Petition Project

5 characteristics of denial Cherry Picking Fake Experts Impossible Expectations

Our understanding of the Greenhouse Warming

5 characteristics of denial Cherry Picking Fake Experts Impossible Expectations Misrepresentation & Logical fallacies

“Climate has changed in the past”

5 characteristics of denial Cherry Picking Fake Experts Impossible Expectations Misrepresentation & Logical fallacies Conspiracy Theories

“Climategate”

5 characteristics of denial Cherry Picking Fake Experts Impossible Expectations Misrepresentation & Logical fallacies Conspiracy Theories Denying the full body of evidence

www.skepticalscience.com john@skepticalscience.com