University of Kwazulu-Natal

Eight Of The Top 10 Online Shows Are Spreading Climate Misinformation

Bonisiwe Shabane
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eight of the top 10 online shows are spreading climate misinformation

Gone are the days when “Global warming isn’t real” was the primary claim of those most vocally opposed to climate action. As more people experience the firsthand effects of climate-change-juiced-up heat waves, hurricanes, wildfires, and crop failures, a new kind of climate denial has emerged. Rather than outright deny the problem, today, the most popular online influencers focus on other false or misleading messages like “Climate solutions don’t work,” “Climate change has some benefits,” and pollution reduction policies are... These new forms of denial made up 70% of all such claims on YouTube in 2023, up from 35% in 2018, according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate. About one in five U.S. adults and 37% of adults under 30 say they regularly get news from social media influencers, according to Pew.

Of the 10 most popular online shows, eight have spread false or misleading information about climate change, a Yale Climate Connections analysis found. That analysis builds on recent work by Media Matters for America, a journalism watchdog organization, which found that right-leaning influencers now dominate digital media like podcasts and streams. Much of the climate-related misinformation spread on these shows follows a revamped playbook of climate denial that focuses on denying the effectiveness of solutions and argues that climate change is beneficial. Influencers Jordan Peterson and Charlie Kirk also presented those concerned about climate change as adherents of a “pseudo-religion.” Dr. Anthony Lindsay | Apr 22, 2025 10:32 AM | 9 min read | 1761 words

TL;DR: Eight out of ten popular online shows are spreading misleading narratives about climate change, posing a significant threat to global efforts to combat environmental degradation. This blog post examines the ramifications of climate misinformation and proposes strategic actions that can be taken by governments, civil society, media, and individuals to counteract its effects. As the world grapples with the accelerating effects of climate change, a concerning trend has emerged within the digital landscape: the proliferation of climate misinformation, particularly through popular online shows. Recent research from Yale Climate Connections reveals the alarming fact that: This surge of misinformation is not merely a trivial issue; it poses a significant threat to global efforts aimed at mitigating environmental degradation. Since 2018, the framing of climate denial has evolved from outright denial to more insidious claims that diminish the urgency of action or suggest that solutions are either ineffective or harmful (Bergmann, 2020).

The rise of climate misinformation reflects a broader crisis of information integrity, with platforms like YouTube becoming breeding grounds for misleading claims. Influential figures such as Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, and Charlie Kirk are at the forefront of this misinformation campaign, framing climate activism as a “pseudo-religion” or a tool for political control (Twal, 2019). This rhetoric does not only delegitimize urgent calls for climate action but also misrepresents the scientific consensus. Eight of the top ten most popular online shows in the United States, including those helmed by Joe Rogan, Russell Brand, Ben Shapiro and Jordan B Peterson, have shared climate misinformation, a new study... According to the study, rather than outrightly denying that climate change exists, these shows are adopting a ‘new kind of climate denial’, focusing on false and misleading messages such as ‘Climate solutions don’t work’,... These type of statements comprised 70% of all climate-related misinformation on YouTube in 2023, an increase from 35% in 2018, according to a recent study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate.

Approximately one in five adults in the US, as well as 37% of adults under 30, say that they regularly get news from social media influencers. Other broadcasters that have shared inaccurate climate information, according to Yale Climate Connections include Charlie Kirk, Candace Owens, Full Send and Phil McGraw. Podcasts with massive audiences are increasingly spreading climate misinformation, misleading listeners on the realities of global warming and the environmental impact of eating meat. Jessica Scott-Reid reports for Sentient. “Of the 10 most popular online shows, eight have spread false or misleading information about climate change.” Misinformation about climate change doesn’t need to come in the form of outright denial.

Today’s most effective climate deniers don’t necessarily reject the science — they erode trust in solutions. They argue that going vegetarian won’t matter, that warming will benefit crops, or that green policies are just veiled government overreach. This narrative, broadcast by influential podcasters to millions, makes inaction seem reasonable. When celebrity voices like Joe Rogan or Russell Brand downplay meat’s climate toll or mock efforts to cut emissions, they reinforce myths that stall urgent policy and personal shifts. The science is clear: industrial meat production is one of the biggest drivers of greenhouse gases, biodiversity loss and water pollution. Yet thanks in part to media echo chambers and algorithms, even casual listeners can absorb misleading views as common sense.

As a nonprofit, independent publication, we're dedicated to objective journalism and driving science-based discussions on crucial topics like climate change and public health. The Evolution of Climate Denial in the Digital Age The narrative surrounding climate change has undergone a significant shift in recent years. Outright denial of climate change is waning, replaced by a more insidious form of misinformation. This "new denial," as it’s being called, doesn’t dispute the existence of climate change but instead attacks the viability of solutions, amplifies perceived benefits of a warming planet, and frames climate action as a... This evolution is fueled by the rise of online influencers and the changing media landscape, particularly the growing reliance on social media for news consumption.

The Rise of Influencer-Driven Misinformation A substantial portion of the US population, especially younger demographics, now regularly receives news from social media influencers. A disturbing trend has emerged where a significant number of popular online shows, primarily right-leaning, are actively spreading climate misinformation. These influencers employ a revamped playbook of denial, focusing on downplaying the effectiveness of climate solutions, highlighting purported benefits of a warmer climate, and even portraying climate activists as members of a "pseudo-religion." This... From Outright Denial to Conspiracy Theories A third of Americans now listen to a podcast at least once a week, and about one in five regularly get news from social media influencers.

That has created an almost perfect environment (no pun intended) for climate misinformation, given that nine out of the 10 top online shows in the US are right-leaning and climate-denying, according to a report... Of these shows, 80% have spread misleading information about climate change, further analysis by Yale Climate Connections has found. “Much of the climate-related misinformation spread on these shows follows a revamped playbook of climate denial that focuses on denying the effectiveness of solutions and argues that climate change is beneficial,” it said. “Influencers Jordan Peterson and Charlie Kirk also presented those concerned about climate change as adherents of a ‘pseudo-religion’.” The findings come at a time when climate misinformation is rampant in the US, not helped by the fact that President Donald Trump is himself a climate sceptic. Americans are also now getting more of their news from new media formats like podcasts and YouTube shows – which don’t have to adhere to the same journalistic ethics and standards as traditional mainstream...

Research shows that the number of Americans who consume news on social media rose from 19% in 2021 to 25% in 2024, with YouTube and Facebook outpacing other platforms on this metric. This digital media landscape’s tilt towards misinformation is only making things worse when it comes to climate action. Remember last November, when Elon Musk joined Joe Rogan on his podcast, and the two dismissed meat production as “irrelevant” to the climate crisis? Or last December, when fellow podcaster Russell Brand, once a committed vegan for ethical and environmental reasons, posted about eating steak at Mar-a-Lago with President-elect Trump? New research from Yale finds that the leading podcasters are increasingly serving up misinformation about climate change and the impact of eating meat, with a side of charisma. “Of the 10 most popular online shows, eight have spread false or misleading information about climate change,” the Yale Climate Connections analysis found.

It also revealed that rather than outright denying climate change, today’s most influential media personalities now push subtler, more insidious narratives — arguing that climate solutions don’t work, that global warming is beneficial or... According to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, these “new denial” messages made up 70 percent of climate misinformation on YouTube in 2023, up from 35 percent in 2018. Misinformation has consequences for climate action, especially around the role dietary change can play to bring down emissions. Eating less meat is one of the most powerful forms of individual climate action, according to Project Drawdown. Yet polling has shown that 74 percent of Americans believe eating less meat would have little or no effect on emissions, when the opposite is true. Stay up to date with DeSmog news and alerts

The popularity of podcasts is growing, as audiences look to the medium and their influential hosts for important information, including news. According to Pew Research, nearly half of all Americans surveyed (49 percent) tuned into a podcast in 2022. And among those listeners, more than one in three (36 percent) stated they made a lifestyle change, like adjusting their diet, based on something they heard; 28 percent said they bought something promoted or... It's Earth Day today, and I'm reminded of the sentiments behind its origin. Initiated in 1970 by US Senator Gaylord Nelson, nationwide demonstrations aimed to raise awareness of the seriousness of the plight of our planet, and to encourage citizens and government to take action. Later that year, the US Environmental Protection Agency was created, and legislation like the Clean Air Act would follow.

Since that time, things have only worsened for our planet (and for us, who live here, and for the other species we share this biosphere with). Global emissions have steadily increased despite significant developments in clean energy, wreaking the havoc that was predicted to occur if we did not scale down our use of fossil fuels. Our waterways and oceans are choked with waste and toxic effluvients. We are experiencing biodiversity loss at an alarming rate, with the anthropocene being considered the 6th mass planetary extinction. And our efforts to reverse these impacts are in peril. A recent analysis from Yale Climate Connections found that 8 out of the top 10 online shows - which are surging in popularity, especially among young men - regularly spread climate misinformation.

Rules against air and water pollution are being scaled back or repealed here in the United States, which could erase $215B in economic surplus annually. Meanwhile, disasters tied to extreme weather simply continue to get worse, displacing millions, disrupting critical supply chains, causing trillions of dollars in destruction and economic losses, and leading to loss of life, especially for... Today, I encourage everyone to channel your inner Gaylord Nelson, recognize the danger we are in, raise your awareness and the awareness of those around you, and take action. https://lnkd.in/gJW5iHhH This is a handy list of viral online climate villains to be shouted down & their sponsors boycotted.

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