A recent study conducted by the Alliance for Science indicates that climate misinformation is nearly non-existent in mainstream print and online media outlets worldwide. The study examined over 300,000 climate-related news stories over a six-month period. During a media event at the Climate Action Zone in Nairobi, Kenya on September 5, 2023, Mark Lynas, the lead author of the study and head of research at the Alliance for Science, stated that climate denialism is no longer a significant issue in news coverage. The Africa Science Media Centre, which is a part of the global SMC network that facilitates communication between scientists and the media, hosted the launch event.
According to Lynas, an analysis of media coverage found that almost all of the coverage aligns with the scientific consensus on human-caused climate change. He noted that this consensus is also reflected in recent studies of peer-reviewed literature on climate change. Lynas stated that the debate about the reality of climate change is essentially settled and is now mostly confined to fringe groups and social media. The study also examined the occurrence of false climate-sceptic themes in global news stories and found a very low rate of misinformation, with only 59 out of over 321,000 articles containing unchallenged false information, representing a misinformation rate of just 0.02 percent.
However, even though it accounts for just 0.02 percent, the misinformation about climate change has reached an estimated 4.4 billion people due to extensive media coverage. This misinformation is predominantly disseminated through mainstream outlets like Yahoo! and MSN, as well as through right-wing and conspiracist media outlets such as Epoch Times.
Within the mainstream news, only two out of the six themes received substantial coverage. The first theme revolves around a ‘World Climate Declaration’ that allegedly garnered the signatures of 1,500 scientists. This declaration suggests that the current warming is partially natural, that it is happening at a slower rate than predicted, that climate models are inadequate, and that CO2 is beneficial for plants and not a pollutant. It is important to note that all of these claims have been debunked, and the list of signatories includes very few active climate scientists.
In relation to the ongoing climate emergency, there is a claim being spread by pro-fossil fuels advocates that the emergency is ‘fake’ because the current warming is considered mild and that life on Earth was thriving with higher CO2 levels in the past. However, this misinformation theme has received limited coverage compared to other themes, such as the denial of Greenland’s ice loss and the toxicity of wind turbines.
Dr. Sheila Ochugboju, director of the Alliance for Science, commented that these findings are encouraging for world leaders attending the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi. She mentioned that the conversation in the media regarding climate change has shifted away from denialist points. However, she also warned that the power of the fossil fuels lobby has led to a transition from denial to delaying action. Urgent measures are necessary to meet the Paris target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees and to provide sufficient funding for climate resilience and growth in vulnerable regions like sub-Saharan Africa.
During the Nairobi climate summit, the Alliance for Science is organizing a Climate Action Zone consisting of various simultaneous events. The events will highlight the importance of food security, climate resilience, and the fight against anti-science misinformation.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana
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