Climate Denial in American Politics: #ClimateBrawl

Americans head to the voting booths on November 5th, 2024, for what may be the most consequential election of the century, not just for America but the world. If (drill, baby, drill) Donald Trump  and the Republican Party, also known as the G.O.P. (sarcastically known as the “Grand Oil Party”), win, the world negotiations on climate change will likely collapse. The energy-industrial complex (the fossil fuel and related industries) created the American “oiligarchy” and political climate denial in Washington. 

The evolution of political climate denial in America is covered in my peer-reviewed book Climate Denial in American Politics: #ClimateBrawl. Dr. Andrew Dessler (Prof. of Atmospheric Sciences & Climate Scientist) wrote: 

Kutney’s book is a thoroughly researched documentation of the public battle over climate change and climate denial. Kutney is in the trenches of the debate, so his perspective is unique and valuable.

The first chapter of the book provides a historical overview of science denial in general, followed by the rise of climate denial, a dark new movement directed against the science of climate change. Dr. Ken Rice (Professor of Computational Astrophysics, University of Edinburgh, and Skeptical Science Board member) commented: 

Gerald Kutney’s book is an excellent resource for those interested in understanding the history and impact of science denial, with a particular focus on climate science denial.

A group that I had formed was #ClimateBrawl, originally on Twitter now X, to challenge the propaganda of climate denial on social media. Dr. John Cook has reviewed the book and has written:

And importantly, it places the #climatebrawl movement—challenging the propaganda of climate denial—within the broader context of science denial throughout history … It’s an enlightening narrative ...

Chapter 2 deals with the presentation of the science of climate change to Congress and the White House. Climate scientists began giving testimony about the dangers of climate change in Congress during the administration of Eisenhower and continue to do so. By the end of the term of President Carter, Washington had been prepped by the scientists for a few decades, and Congress appeared to be ready to propose legislation on climate change when President Reagan put an abrupt halt to the discussion causing a paradigm shift in the politics of climate change.

The next chapter exposes how climate denial became embedded within the Republican Party. Climate denial showed up in Congress during the administration of President George H. W. Bush, and this particularly dangerous form of science denial spread throughout the G.O.P. at a phenomenal rate. The chapter also highlights the lively climate brawls challenging the contrarian scientists who came to Washington with their disinformation. Noted climate brawls were led by John Kerry and the famous climate scientist James Hansen. Dr. James Hansen (Director of Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions program in the Columbia University Earth Institute) has reviewed my book, writing:

The climate denial serpent lives, even as climate change emerges. Kutney rightly thrashes the serpent, for the sake of us all, especially young people.

Chapter 4, the “Denial Cabal,” discusses the most powerful political actors promoting climate denial in Washington. A prominent member of the denial cabal in Congress was the “Senator of Denial,” James Inhofe. President Trump was the “Denier-in-Chief,” and his administration was packed full of political climate deniers and related ex-oil executives. A main target of the denial cabal was the noted climate scientist Dr. Michael E. Mann who demonstrated how an effective climate brawl should be carried out in Washington. Dr. Michael E. Mann (American climatologist and geophysicist, director of the Center for Science, Sustainability & the Media at the University of Pennsylvania) has also reviewed my book, writing:

If you’re looking to understand how climate change became so prominent in American politics, look no further than Gerald Kutney’s authoritative, and engaging primer on the topic, "Climate Denial in American Politics”. Having been on the frontlines of the social media “climate brawl” for years, he provides insights from the frontlines that will help you not only understand where denialism comes from, but how to join in the collective effort to fight back against it.

The last chapter, called the “Denial Machine” details the insidious role played by the energy-industrial complex (fossil fuel and related industries). By the 1980s, the energy-industrial complex had a choice to make: an organized transition away from fossil fuels to non-carbon emitting technologies or to fight dirty against the science of climate change. The energy-industrial complex chose profits over people. Jenny, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party, House of Lords UK) wrote after reviewing the book: 

In his book Gerald … exposes the dangerous role that Twitter (or X) plays in its spread and reveals the power of the denial machine of the energy-industrial complex. I have watched Gerald in awe for years while he bats away Climate Deniers and this book will help us all to do the same.

An oiligarchy emerged in Washington and a “deep state” controlled aspects of the federal government. Climate brawls attempted to prevent the energy-industrial complex from undermining American democracy. Elizabeth May (O.C., MP, Leader Green Party of Canada) wrote about Climate Denial in American Politics: 

Thanks to Gerald Kutney for this well-researched and timely take-down of the many ways pro-fossil fuel propaganda muddies climate action. Climate Brawl it is and it's not pretty. The book gives you the tools to take it on in the toxic world of social media!

Climate Denial in American Politics proposes what must be done to stop climate denial in Washington. The first step is effective climate brawls to mute climate denial. The book concludes:

Once climate denial has been discredited and climate deniers have been marginalized in American politics, then Congress can begin the real job of passing bipartisan legislation and identifying the best options to halt the climate crisis. Climate brawls are not the whole “solution to the politics” but a vital piece to getting us there.

Now back to November 5th, with the climate crisis continuing largely unabated, time is running out. The world, not just America, can ill afford to have the most infamous political climate denier return as leader of the most powerful nation in the world. Other countries expect America to take the lead in stopping the climate crisis.

Gerald Kutney is a commentator on the news media and social media on the politics of the climate crisis. He is the author of two books, “Carbon Politics and the Failure of the Kyoto Protocol” and “Climate Denial in American Politics: #ClimateBrawl.”