PieFedoil won't love you back
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There are politically motivated “think tanks” that pump out a lot of misinformation, in a similar vein as the tobacco lobbies used to do.
Either they claim that there’s no such thing as climate change, or “rising temperatures are of all times”, or “we humans didn’t cause climate change” to (in my country) “we’re just a tiny country, what we do, doesn’t make any difference on a global scale, because (insert third world country) will just continue to harm the environment”.
Some people (who seemingly are bereft of any conscience or empathy) are susceptible to such propaganda, because it makes them feel better than with the news about climate change.
1960s “That didn’t happen” Early(ish) research on climate change is buried.
1970s “And if it did, it wasn’t that bad.” Severity of impacts downplayed
1980s “And if it was, it’s not a big deal.” Oil companies form a coalition to oppose regulation.”
1990s “And if it is, it wasn’t my fault.” Think tanks begin switch to accepting climate change but rejecting it’s anthropogenic nature.”
2000s “And if it was, I didn’t mean it.” Oil companies try to disavow their earlier knowledge of research, engage in greenwashing.
2010s “And if I did, you deserved it.” BP, among others, encourages consumers to limit their carbon footprint to save the environment, despite the fact that the majority of contribution is from industrial and commercial sources.
This timeline is sloppy. There’s a lot of overlap. I’m more trying to paint a picture of what happened. In reality, the research is older. Some parties are still trying to argue the climate either isn’t changing or that the earth is getting colder. Chaos is an important part of disinformation.