University of Kwazulu-Natal

Understanding The Climate Misinformation Spread On Popular Online Show

Bonisiwe Shabane
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understanding the climate misinformation spread on popular online show

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.” 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. The Rise of "New Denial": How Climate Misinformation Thrives Online The landscape of climate change denial has undergone a significant transformation. No longer dominated by outright rejection of the phenomenon, a new wave of misinformation has taken hold, focusing on undermining climate solutions, exaggerating the supposed benefits of global warming, and portraying climate action as...

This "new denial" has proliferated online, particularly through influential social media personalities and podcasts, reaching a vast audience and hindering efforts to address the climate crisis. The shift in denial tactics is evident in the content shared on platforms like YouTube. While outright denial of climate change still exists, a much larger proportion of climate-related misinformation now centers on these new narratives. This evolution reflects a response to the increasing public awareness of climate change impacts, as more people experience extreme weather events and other consequences firsthand. Deniers have adapted their messaging to exploit anxieties around climate solutions and government regulation. The rise of "new denial" coincides with the increasing influence of social media and online personalities as news sources.

A significant portion of the population, especially younger demographics, now regularly consume news from influencers. Consequently, the spread of misinformation through popular online shows and podcasts has become a major concern. Analysis reveals that a majority of the most popular online shows have promoted false or misleading information about climate change, often portraying it as a hoax or exaggerating its benefits. This new wave of climate denial often incorporates conspiracy theories, depicting climate action as a sinister plot by governments to control populations. This narrative mirrors similar conspiracy theories surrounding public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating a convergence of misinformation across different domains. The "control" narrative has gained traction online, becoming a significant component of climate-skeptic content on platforms like YouTube and Twitter (now X).

This tactic aims to sow distrust in institutions and undermine support for climate policies. Climate change is one of the most important challenges facing our planet, yet social media platforms are filled with climate misinformation. When false or inaccurate climate messages spread online, they can undermine support for environmental policies, cause political inaction, and increase public doubt about science. Understanding why and how social media users come to believe and share misinformation is crucial because even well-meaning users can unwittingly amplify false claims that ultimately harm efforts to tackle climate change. A new study in Cogent Social Sciences, co-authored by our visiting scholar Dr. Muhammad Ittefaq and colleagues at Arizona State University and the University of South Carolina, takes a closer look at how social media users decide whether to believe and share false climate information.

This knowledge is vital for building counterstrategies and making social media platforms better able to regulate content. Because most social media users aren’t climate experts, they often use mental shortcuts called “heuristics” to determine whether information is credible. In the study, researchers showed 320 participants different X-style posts containing false climate information, varying three main cues: The study explored what happens when two or all three of these factors appear together, and how they might influence each other. Climate misinformation refers to false or inaccurate information about climate change and climate action that is generally spread without malicious intent. It usually arises from misunderstandings, misinterpretations of data or simply outdated knowledge.

For example, some people might misinterpret short-term weather patterns, like an extended winter season, as evidence against global warming. Despite the absence of intent to deceive, misinformation still contributes to confusion and scepticism about climate science, making it harder for people to access accurate information. Climate disinformation, on the other hand, is deliberately false and fabricated to deceive people about climate change and climate action for political, financial or ideological reasons. It is spread by individuals or organizations with vested interests in denying or downplaying the reality of climate change and its impacts. For instance, fossil fuel companies have been known to fund campaigns that cast doubt on climate science to protect their profits. Disinformation tactics can include cherry-picking data, promoting pseudoscience, or amplifying conspiracy theories.

Unlike misinformation, which can often be corrected through education and better communication, disinformation is more difficult to address and requires targeted efforts to expose and counter the deliberate falsehoods being spread. Both climate misinformation and disinformation undermine public trust in climate science, delay policy responses and polarize public discourse. According to the Global Risk Report 2024, misinformation and disinformation, together with the impacts of the climate and nature crises, are the biggest short-term and long-term risks to human society. Climate misinformation and disinformation come in various forms, each serving different purposes but ultimately hindering climate action. While some outright deny climate change, others seek to delay solutions, mislead the public or promote conspiracy theories that undermine trust in science and institutions. 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. 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.

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