Fossil fuel misinformation may sideline one of the most important climate change reports ever released

A photograph of a coal-fired power station, with smoke billowing out of the chimneys.
12 August 2021

This week’s landmark report on the state of the climate paints a sobering picture. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that, without deep and immediate cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, the world is very likely headed for climate catastrophe.

In November, world leaders will gather in Glasgow for the latest round of United Nations climate talks. It’s the most crucial round of climate negotiations since those which led to the Paris Agreement in 2015.

The question is: will governments around the world now listen to the climate science? Or will misinformation campaigns backed by vested interests continue to delay action?

If we’re to avert a climate disaster, we must not underestimate the power of climate misinformation campaigns to undermine the IPCC findings and ensure governments continue to ignore the science.

Read the full article on The Conversation website, authored by Assoc Prof Christian Downie

Updated:  24 August 2021/Responsible Officer:  College of Science/Page Contact:  https://iceds.anu.edu.au/contact