In the summer of 1997, a full-page advertisement appeared in The New York Times, warning of dire economic consequences if the United States embraced the Kyoto Protocol, a treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This message, presented by the Global Climate Coalition, was cloaked in images of smiling children but concealed a more insidious motive: a multi-million dollar campaign supported by questionable data and backed by some of the world’s most powerful corporations. The Global Climate Coalition was essentially a front for the oil industry, established to sow doubt and confusion about climate action.
The story of climate change denial begins decades earlier. In the 1970s, oil companies employed some of the world’s leading atmospheric scientists to understand weather-related risks to their equipment and assess the environmental impact of new projects. By the late 1970s, these scientists, alongside their academic counterparts, concluded that burning fossil fuels led to a buildup of atmospheric carbon, which would trap heat and increase surface temperatures. They warned that even a slight temperature rise could be catastrophic, accurately predicting events like rapid Arctic warming and the melting of Antarctic ice sheets.
Throughout the 1980s, oil industry representatives met repeatedly to discuss these dangers, acknowledging the risk their products posed to humanity’s future. However, rather than alerting the public or transitioning to renewable energy sources, they doubled down on oil production.
In the late 1980s, as scientists raised alarms about climate change, public awareness grew, leading to calls for government action. In response, the oil industry launched a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar public relations campaign to discredit the very science they helped pioneer. They employed the same PR firms that had previously assisted the tobacco industry in misleading the public about smoking’s harms.
Oil companies lobbied government officials and covertly funded organizations like the Global Climate Coalition, whose goal was to obscure the scientific consensus on climate change and humanity’s role in it. They attacked credible scientists and financed advertisements disguised as op-eds, which exaggerated uncertainties in climate models and used these uncertainties to dismiss the science entirely. These “advertorials” captured readers’ attention with provocative titles like “Lies They Tell Our Children” and “Unsettled Science.”
The industry also exploited lingering Cold War anxieties, equating government regulation with socialism. By doing so, they transformed a non-partisan, uncontentious topic into a hot-button political issue. After George W. Bush became president in 2001, oil lobbyists successfully influenced his administration to replace officials who agreed with mainstream science with those opposing environmental regulations. When Bush withdrew the US from the Kyoto Protocol, his administration credited the Global Climate Coalition for influencing this decision.
The oil industry’s PR campaigns did not end with their Kyoto victory. They have continued to shape the climate conversation, pushing propaganda and co-opting climate language. British Petroleum, for instance, popularized the term “carbon footprint,” effectively shifting climate responsibility from the industry to the consumer. Despite acknowledging that burning fossil fuels contributes to climate change, oil companies deny misleading the public, claiming their messaging always reflected the scientific consensus. However, an extensive paper trail suggests otherwise.
While oil companies’ profits reach all-time highs, climate change costs the public billions of dollars annually. Extreme weather events and decreasing air quality result in millions of deaths each year. The culture of doubt created by the oil industry remains widespread, polarizing the issue and delaying meaningful action. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. We can still reclaim the conversation and change course by embracing renewable energies and sustainable practices to protect both our planet and our future.
Form two groups and engage in a structured debate. One group will represent the oil industry’s perspective on climate change, while the other will argue from the standpoint of climate scientists. Use evidence from the article to support your arguments. This will help you understand the different viewpoints and the tactics used in climate change denial.
Conduct a research project where you gather historical climate data from the 1970s to the present. Analyze the data to identify trends in global temperatures, CO2 levels, and the frequency of extreme weather events. Present your findings in a report that highlights the correlation between fossil fuel consumption and climate change.
Design a public awareness campaign that counters the misinformation spread by climate change denial groups. Create posters, social media posts, and a short video that educates the public on the scientific consensus about climate change and the importance of taking action. Share your campaign with the class and discuss its potential impact.
Find examples of advertorials and media pieces funded by the oil industry that aim to discredit climate science. Analyze the language, imagery, and arguments used in these pieces. Write a critical essay discussing how these tactics influence public perception and policy regarding climate change.
Participate in a role-playing activity where you simulate a government meeting to decide on climate policy. Assign roles such as government officials, oil industry lobbyists, climate scientists, and environmental activists. Debate and negotiate policies, considering the influence of different stakeholders. Reflect on how such dynamics affect real-world policy decisions.
climate – The long-term average of weather patterns in a particular area, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation. – Climate change is affecting ecosystems worldwide, leading to shifts in species distribution and habitat loss.
denial – The refusal to accept the reality of a situation, often seen in the context of climate change and its impacts. – Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, some politicians remain in denial about the effects of climate change.
emissions – The release of substances, particularly greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution and climate change. – Reducing carbon emissions is crucial for mitigating the impacts of global warming.
fossil fuels – Natural substances such as coal, oil, and natural gas that are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, and are used as energy sources. – The reliance on fossil fuels for energy is a major contributor to environmental degradation and climate change.
renewable – Energy sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, which have a lower environmental impact. – Investing in renewable energy is essential for achieving a sustainable future.
pollution – The introduction of harmful substances or contaminants into the environment, which can adversely affect human health and ecosystems. – Air pollution from vehicles and industries poses serious health risks to urban populations.
awareness – The knowledge and understanding of environmental issues and the importance of taking action to address them. – Increasing public awareness about climate change is vital for encouraging sustainable practices.
sustainability – The ability to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often through responsible resource management. – Sustainability practices in agriculture can help preserve ecosystems while providing food for the growing population.
propaganda – Information, often biased or misleading, used to promote a particular political cause or point of view, including environmental issues. – Environmental propaganda can sometimes distort the facts about climate change to influence public opinion.
carbon – A chemical element that is a key component of all living organisms and is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide through burning fossil fuels. – Reducing carbon footprints is essential for combating climate change and protecting the environment.
