climate denialism
Planetary science skepticism
Climate denialism is rejection of the scientific consensus that human activity is causing global climate change.
It ranges from outright denial that warming is occurring to acceptance of warming but rejection of human causation.
Climate denialism has delayed meaningful policy responses for decades.
The term is often used critically, implying willful disregard of evidence rather than honest skepticism.
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- fake newsIntentionally deceptive media content
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
falsehood · deception · distortion · cherry-picking · misrepresentation · manipulation · myths · pseudoscience
Lack of firm belief
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- motivated reasoningBiased cognition favoring preferences
- cognitive dissonanceDiscomfort from contradictory beliefs
- confirmation biasPreferring belief-supporting information
willful ignorance · distrust · dismissiveness · resistance · rationalization · avoidance · tribalism · complacency
Opposing prevailing views systematically
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- debateFormal argument on issues
- naysayerHabitual dissenter
- denierOne who contradicts
Advocating to decision-makers
- ExxonAmerican oil conglomerate
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- deregulationRemoving governmental business restrictions
- conservative mediaJournalism with traditional-values slant
fossil fuel industry · polarization · interest groups · ideology · subsidies · campaigns · legislation · governance
Emissions that trap heat
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- anthropogenicCaused by human activity
sea level rise · temperature rise · extreme weather · heatwaves · droughts · wildfires · IPCC · peer review
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- propagandaBiased information for influence
- fake newsIntentionally deceptive media content
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
fabrication · falsehood · deception · distortion · cherry-picking · misrepresentation · manipulation · myths · pseudoscience · conspiracy theories
doubt
Lack of firm belief
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- motivated reasoningBiased cognition favoring preferences
- cognitive dissonanceDiscomfort from contradictory beliefs
confirmation bias · willful ignorance · distrust · dismissiveness · resistance · rationalization · avoidance · tribalism · complacency · apathy
contrarianism
Opposing prevailing views systematically
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- debateFormal argument on issues
- naysayerHabitual dissenter
lobbying
Advocating to decision-makers
- ExxonAmerican oil conglomerate
- partisanshipLoyalty to one faction
- deregulationRemoving governmental business restrictions
fossil fuel industry · conservative media · polarization · interest groups · ideology · subsidies · campaigns · legislation · governance · advocacy
greenhouse gases
Emissions that trap heat
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- emissionsSubstances released into air
anthropogenic · sea level rise · temperature rise · extreme weather · heatwaves · droughts · wildfires · IPCC · peer review · scientific consensus
climate denialismclimate activism
Organized push for ecological policy
climate advocacy · environmentalism · scientific consensus · climate action · green politics
climate denialismscientific consensus
Prevailing expert judgment
evidence-based reasoning · scientific integrity · intellectual honesty · scientific literacy · empiricism
climate, climatic, climatology, climatological, climatologist, climates, acclimate, acclimatize, acclimatization