While some people still deny climate change, what cannot be denied is the unprecedented scale of the heatwave scorching large parts of Europe, Asia, and the United States in 2023.
Switzerland, Spain and Greece are on fire due to record temperatures.
Italy recorded its hottest day ever at 42℃ in Rome. Arizona in the USA broke its record for nineteen consecutive days, peaking (at time of writing) at 43℃. At the same time, the UK has bucked the trend by going the other way, with excessive rainfall that is unheard of in July.
From these examples alone, it’s clear something is wrong with the Earth’s climate.
Yet, some people still don’t believe it’s real.
Why?
A lot of climate change denial comes from misinformation published or broadcast by mainstream media, social media influencers or celebrities with a big reach on platforms like Twitter and TikTok.
Here are just three examples:
Recently, the Daily Mail published an article titled: Climate Hysteria.
The article goes on to say:
“The prophecies of catastrophe by UN climate scientists yesterday were distinctly familiar. Disastrous global warming. Disastrous floods, heatwaves and famine. Time running out for humanity. We’ve heard such hair-raising predictions many times over the years and they often fall short of reality.”
And with the paper selling between 680,000 and 1.3 million depending on the day and an online readership of over 24 million, many people share or have their opinion swayed purely because a newspaper writes it.
TalkTV news presenter Isabelle Oakeshott is famous for her outspoken views on Twitter. Following a recent heatwave in the UK, she took to the platform to post a tweet that over 2 million people saw:
“Climate change headbangers panicking about a few hot days last month can calm down. It’s 13 degrees and pouring. Oh, and where’s a picture of Greta wearing a jumper in July?“
This is a mistake many climate change deniers make, who only think global warming amounts to hot weather. Meanwhile, while the UK might have suffered from a light drizzle, one-third of Pakistan was underwater through flooding the day she posted her tweet.
DW’s Own Planet is a TikTok channel that peddles outright climate denial. A recent video was posted stating:
“Climate change is not real. It’s just about the money. This is sad that you scared children. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
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Many people are influenced by what they see on television, read in papers and encounter online, often overlooking what they can see with their own eyes by looking out of the window.
It’s also difficult to crack down on climate deniers because it isn’t a crime to disbelieve that climate change is real.
All we can hope is that more people believe it’s happening than don’t, especially those in positions of power who can make real, long-lasting change – before it’s too late.
If you’re concerned about climate change, reducing your carbon emissions means you’re doing your bit for the planet.
To do that, speak to us.
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