Climate Change Denial: An Ecocidal, Parallel Universe of Simulation

This chapter delves into the problem of climate change denial that is preventing global society from taking action in defense of an imperiled planet in the Anthropocene/Technocene. Specifically, this discussion demonstrates that the unholy alliance of Big Carbon, the Alt-Right media ecosystem, including the Murdoch empire, the corporate consolidation of news networks tied to the profit motive, far-right populist leaders, and the extremism within evangelical culture has generated an ecocidal, parallel universe of simulation. The competing truth claims within disinformational silos, which suggest that global warming either has been greatly exaggerated or is a hoax, are deadly post-factual metanarratives that have obfuscated the scientific consensus about the reality of anthropogenic climate change. Owing to the pervasiveness of anti-science, post-factual rhetoric, the battle against fake news almost seems impossible at times. Nonetheless, the implementation of what contemporary psychologists refer to as “inoculation theory” in classrooms and the success of environmental literacy programs for children offer a glimmer of hope that the struggle against conspiracy theories about climate change is not in vain. Moreover, the international collaboration across borders to close the ozone hole and to decrease the deleterious impact of acid rain provide a basis for cautious optimism.