Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming

An excellent intro to the hidden infrastructure of climate anti-science

ANTI-SCIENCE AND WHO DOES IT
Anti-science (or agnotology), seeks to cover-up or obscure science considered inconvenient, or at least create doubt in the minds of public and decision-makers. It seeks to replace knowledge with ignorance, and has no resemblance to normal arguments within science, by scientists.

Modern anti-science is most skillfully executed by a relatively small subset of lobbyists and PR agencies. Some of the most effective are actually "thinktanks". They have public identities distinct from their (often-unidentified) funders, and can often be labeled "non-profit", thus avoiding the expense of taxes. They often seek funding in the same way as lobbyist/PR agencies, as is well-documented in the Tobacco Archives.

Such entities have played successful roles in activities like fending off tobacco regulation, fighting CFC regulation ("ozone hole"), fighting mercury regulation, etc. For some, their top priority has changed to obfuscating climate... read more

Requires a careful reading

Well written and clear analysis.

I have been reading about the science of climate change as a non-scientist, and about the policy and political implications, for a number of years, trying to learn what was going on, and what needs to be done in response. I particularly recommend Kolbert, "Field Notes from a Catastrophe," and Flannery, "The Weather Makers" for a good overview. And "Scientific American" provides good regular coverage of the issue. The description of this book struck me as interesting so I bought it from amazon and read it, and recommend it as well written and clear, and providing a good overview of the long-term disinformation campaign by professional skeptics who don't do much science, but do a lot of public relations on behalf of the industry that does not want to be responsible for the harm climate change is causing. I think business students familiar with marketing and advertising will find the authors perspective on how that industry plays in this area quite interesting. The insight into Canadian... read more