Global warming and Climate change have been a center of global discussion since the pre-industrialization. It is estimated that human activities have warmed the world by 1.5ºC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2019). The impact of this change has been felt across many parts of the world. It has shaken the ecosystem, both aquatic and terrestrial, prompting the question if indeed, the ecosystem can provide sustain the humans. Policies have been discussed in these fora and put into action to try and mitigate this global problem.
Global Warming Denial
Given that global warming and climate change should be a conversation of all nations, governments, international agencies, and every individual on the globe, different narratives have emerged over time (Riley et al., 2015). These narratives are the drivers of global warming denials phenomenon that refute the efforts championed to tackle global warming. The global warming denial messages are seen to be driven by international organizations that see themselves as the key stakeholders, developing their visions and missions within this universal issue (Riley et al., 2015).
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Even though the number of research work done to create awareness and promote global warming and climate change is enormous compared to the denial reporting, the phenomenon of global warming denial been increasingly tremendously (Ekohomika, 2015). The researchers who are seen to be against the global warming theory, are coming together to form entities, undertake projects and programs to further their ideas, example of this includes the International Climate Science Coalition.
Global Warming Denial Based on Unpredictable Future Results
Hestres ( 2019) explains how the scope and unpredictability of any projected disasters would undermine the theory of global warming, primarily when they do not occur. The skeptics of global warming often refer to the unpredictability of the future as implied by the research scientists. They base their arguments on how unlikely the predicted outcomes put across by research experts, may never come to pass or even on the unforeseen predictions given earlier. The question of whether the possibilities given as the likelihood of the future climatic patterns is debatable to some. Co-founder of the International Journal of forecasting, Scott Armstrong, in his explainer, says that nobody knows about the future prediction; in other places, it cools down, and in others, it heats up, one cannot ascertain the United Nations Reports (Ekohomika, 2015).
Global Warming Denials due to peoples’ beliefs
People tend to be concerned with global warming on scorching weather months with the Google search volume index on the phrase ‘global warming' rating higher at such time (Choi et al., 2018). People would make sense out of the local temperatures, as this what is noticeable to them and relatable to their personal experiences. They would not relate to or consider the global trend that would occur in the next 10 to 20 years to come.
According to a survey conducted in 2016 by Yale Program on Climate Change communication, about 70% of adults believe global warming is indeed happening, with only 40% expressing their concerns that global warming would affect them personally (Choi et al., 2018). These statistics point out to a vast percentage of people who have embraced the phenomenon of global warming denial. This also translates to the factual evidence that most people are not aware that environmental activism is a personal responsibility of every individual.
Still, on the general public ( Hestres , 2019), findings show how more women than men take the initiative in environmental matters irrespective of age group or country. This is on the basis that women more empathy and care for the environment. This makes them the idealists in the conversation of environmental activism.
Global warming denial led by other scientists
The phenomenon of global warming denial is driven by other scientists who have outwardly denied the idea of increasing global warming, and climate change has continued to challenge the efforts of the scientific research and policies made to fight global warming. They also challenge reports and results provides by the organization, given these mandates of addressing issues of global warming. Scientists and scholars such as Professor Rowan Sutton of Reading University denied the 2013 findings by United Nations Organizations warning that human activities are responsible for 95% changes in climate trends (Ekohomika, 2015). He stated that was false, backing his argument that that has reduced over the last 10 to 15 years. This gives the conclusion that the findings of the results are likely to be delivered to favor these nations. This conflicting information derails the efforts put into pushing the theory of global warming and enacting changes to mitigate it. Some researchers have come out to claim that the oceans are capable of absorbing the amount of heat produced at the moment.
Institutions have also come out to deny the theory of global warming. A good example would the Marshal Institute. The Marshall institute attacked climate science first in 1989 through its first report, claiming that the rise in temperature of the earth was due to the Sun ( Jylhä et al., 2019 ). They circulated the unpublished reports and even requested the United States White House staff to allow them to present it. Following this, the IPCC rejected and challenged the Marshal Institute s report. The back and forth exchange of information between these institutions have elevated the phenomenon of global denial of climate change and global warming. The Marshall Institute says that the White House took its reporting seriously, under the leadership of President Bush ( Jylhä et al., 2019). They say their report reached millions of Americans and influenced their opinion after it was published on the Wall Street journal. They claimed that members of the American congress had bought their idea and went ahead to propose bills that would have cut down the funding by on climate science research by nearly one third.
The phenomenon of global warming denial is also fuelled by those who argue on the errors made by researchers at the point of data analysis, methods of data collections, and interpretation of results. It has been questionable that what if data errors are either intentionally or unintentionally made by humans to come up with pre-determined results (Ekohomika, 2015). Other than the research scientists, Nations are involved in coming up with pre-determined results that are erroneous. The draft of the 2013 United Nations reports that led to the final reporting of the earth's temperature was manipulated by delegations of Germany, Hungary, and Belgium to suit their interests ( Еkohomika , 2015). These Nations wanted alteration of the temperature of the planet to depict the previous findings, just sell the idea that global warming was indeed happening.
Results manipulation, have killed the theory of global warming and supported the phenomenon of global warming denial. Pieces of evidence through leaked email conversation between Michael Mann and a member of IPCC, Phil Jones, revealing that over the last decade, global temperature has not risen, and data must be omitted (Ekohomika, 2015). These kinds of revelations have distorted the creditability and reliability of these research organizations leading to more questions on their research findings.
Politics drive global warming denial
Global warming denial is mostly inspired by political structures whose fundamental skepticism based on attaining vital interests. Policies enacted by bodies researching global warming such as the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are said to be affected by political interests coming from the leading nations (Ekohomika, 2015). Histories of the Cold war are some of the problems promoting the phenomenon of global warming ( Jylhä et al. , 2019), stating how the science of climate science has entangled with politics of history, and political interest. The idea of who is more economically, politically and financially industrialized as a nation amid global warming, distracts the focus on a united purpose to see through that global warming is addressed together without segregation of other countries ( Davenport , 2016).
Political leaders who typically have a huge following and influence in the funding for most of the organizations subscribed to promoting the realm of global warming can collapse the efforts put on global warming. For example, Donald Trump, through his Twitter account, made strong statements that's; "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive." When politics is involved in critical matters of global warming, people tend to take sides with their political ideologies and forgetting about the real conversation on Global Warming and its effects. Moreover, they tend to promote what is supported by their influential leaders.
The global warming denial seems to an idea supported by the most emitter of greenhouse gases. People question why the world's second emitter does not commit to the fight of climate change following President Donald Trump's statement on America pulling out from the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The politicians are said to be funded by fuel fossils lobbyists who see the quest for global warming theory as a threat to their economic activity and interests ( Jylhä et al., 2019). Shows how the UK Royal Society named thirty-nine organizations which received funding from corporate to promote disinformation about climate science. Institutions called included the American Enterprise Institute, the Marshall Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and the Competitive Institute of Enterprise. The claims stated that these institutes had been funded majorly by Exxon Mobil and other fossil fuel companies.
Impact of global warming denial
Impact of global warming denial on the public
The phenomenon of global warming rejection has led to the spread of misinformation. The deniers of the theory of global warming have their interests at hand, have misguided the public, shared the wrong information with the public, and undermined the efforts of environmental activists. It is reported that in the United States, the rate of disinformation was high, with polls showing that almost half of all the Republicans in the United States by the early 2000s were still debating whether climate change was as a result of human activity ( Jylhä et al., 2019). Public interaction with information from the deniers of global warming has led to even more deeply entrenched divided opinion and reduced efforts to see that the environment is well taken care of.
Impact of global warming denial on Policymakers
Policymakers such as IPCC have not received sufficient support from both the general public and stakeholders as a result of the denier of the theory of global warming, who are putting out information that undermines their creditability and reliability ( Еkohomika, 2015) . Their image and efforts are, therefore, distorted. They have found it hard to implement the strategic plans due to the high level of misinformation and conflicting findings. Since global warming requires worldwide support and intervention, the lack of this downplays their role.
The phenomenon of global warming denial has seen the policymakers channel funds into countering these allegations. Climate change research is seen to increase their media through publications, mainstream media communication (Petersen et al., 2019). They have come out to defend the theory of global warming and, at the same time, do what is termed as image cleansing. Deniers have challenged the same policymakers to ensure that scientific research is out and accurate. The policymakers have had to tighten even further their research team and analysis on the trend of global warming and its future implications.
Impact of global warming on environmental activists
Mistrust has continued to grow in the organization mandated to carry out research and on the roles performed by environmental activists trying to pass out information and communicate on the progress of global warming ( Bulleri, 2018) . With the deniers of global warming theory insisting on these organizations package information in a way that suits their interests, it creates room for mistrust from the public. Allegations of political interference and involvement in research findings also have undermined their role in promoting the theory of global warming.
Sustainment of Discrepancies
Concerning the sustainment of the discrepancies, (Petersen et al., 2019) describe the nature of communication where the deniers are leading with 49% of media articles than the scientists. These statistics highlight the need for climate change agents to keep up with the deniers who have enjoyed the support of politics into their communication strategy. At the moment the sustaining the theory of global warming is on the losing end in terms of communication strategy efforts. Discrepancies favor the deniers in the public eye since they enjoy the disinformation that arises with human cognitive biasness and the consumption of media content. (Petersen et al., 2019).
All in all, even as deniers maintain high media visibility, their publication seems not to have accurate scientific quotes or backup. At the same time, global warming research scientists continue to produce scientific-based evidence within their low media visibility. Therefore, the sustainability of discrepancies, when based on scientific research, which is the best way of proving science, lies with the theory of global warming.
Conclusion
The phenomenon of global warming denial cannot be underestimated. It is gaining roots in all aspects of the conversations and through organizations, institutions, and individuals. Organizations tasked with the mandate, such as IPCC, should be put insufficient strategies to mitigate its effect in the globe or in pursuant of proving that it is a narrative that should not have a place in the field of research science. It has impacted negatively on the efforts of both policymakers, researchers, and environmental activists into ensuring that everyone is informed not only on the dangers of global warming but the mitigations measures required.
In the future, even as efforts of combating global warming should be enforced, and concerned parties should ensure that there is effective communication, non-partisan, and independence. The deniers of global warming are continuously building their networks, using social media to impact their agenda and spread information. Global warming sensitizers should ensure strategic communication, not deny the deniers the ground of sustaining their motion.
References
Bulleri (2018), Marine Biology165:65. Effects of global warming on species interactions . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-018-3323-1
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Davenport, C., & Lipton, E. (2016). Trump picks Scott Pruitt, climate change denialist, to lead EPA. The New York Times , 7 .
Еkohomika. (2015) Bulletin of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Economics 1(166): 51-56. Global warming between science and politics . DOI: dx.doi.org/ 10.17721/1728-2667.2015/166-1/6
Hestres, L. E. (2019). 12 Fighting climate change denial in the United States. Climate Change Denial and Public Relations: Strategic communication and interest groups in climate inaction .
IPCC (2019) Special Report: Global warming of 1.5 ºC . www.ipcc.ch
Joshua. H. (2018) Behind the Curve: Science and the Politics of Global warming
Jylhä, K. M., Strimling, P., & Rydgren, J. (2019). Climate change denial among radical right-wing supporters.
Petersen, A.M., Vincent, E.M. & Westerling, A.L. (2019). The discrepancy in scientific authority and media visibility of climate change scientists and contrarians. Nature Communications 10 , 3502. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09959-4
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