Climate change denial

Climate change denial refers to the deliberate rejection of the scientific evidence about anthropogenic climate change. Understanding the origin, motivation and tactics of climate change denial is not just an issue of academic curiosity. Climate change denial can potentially hinder action by citizens and policy-makers to mange the risks of climate change and unnecessarily exposes people to bigger risks from increases in the frequency and intensity of many extreme weather events, including heatwaves, floods, wildfires and droughts.

Climate change denial takes many forms. Some people deny that the global temperature is rising and the climate is changing. Others accept that the climate is changing, but deny that human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are primarily responsible. And yet others, sometimes called ‘lukewarmers’, accept that the climate is changing and that human activities are the main driver, but deny that the impacts could be significant.

In all of these cases, the denial means a rejection of overwhelming evidence and irrefutable facts. While climate change denial is waning as more people see for themselves that climate change is already occurring around the world, it is still promoted in some public discussions, political processes and media coverage. The Grantham Research Institute actively challenges climate change denial around the world in order to promote the public interest.