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Climate Change Deniers Still Impeding Progress

Americans lost in haze of contradictory information

By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 7, 2007 5:06 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Scientists thought they'd convinced the world it was getting warmer, but a powerful, flush campaign of cynics is still successfully sowing doubt, Newsweek reports—and hobbling efforts to stave off disaster. From its humble beginnings ridiculing any warming, the "denial machine" has picked up funding from big oil and developed a more nuanced strategy: make Americans believe climate change is still an open question.

Losing in the labs, conservative skeptics are taking their fight to the press, using conferences, papers and media allies to recast the looming crisis as a debate—not unlike erstwhile tobacco apologists content to poke an array of holes in the evidence that tobacco causes cancer. The obfuscation appears to be working: Most Americans still think the scientific community is divided on the issue, while Europeans think it commands urgent attention.

An iceberg melts in Kulusuk Bay, eastern Greenland Tuesday July 17, 2007. The melting of the Greenland ice cap and its effect on the area around Greenland is one of the more immediate effects of climate change. (AP Photo/John McConnico)
An iceberg melts in Kulusuk Bay, eastern Greenland Tuesday July 17, 2007. The melting of the Greenland ice cap and its effect on the area around Greenland is one of the more immediate effects of climate...   (Associated Press)
Activists of the anti-globalisation organisation Attac hold an inflatable globe during the symbolical release of the globe in the Baltic Sea off Rostock, Germany, Monday, June 4, 2007. The leaders of the G8 nations will be holding their annual summit in the nearby historic Heiligendamm sea resort on June 6-8,...
Activists of the anti-globalisation organisation Attac hold an inflatable globe during the symbolical release of the globe in the Baltic Sea off Rostock, Germany, Monday, June 4, 2007. The leaders of...   (Associated Press)
Prison Planet
Prison Planet   ((c) azrainman)
Saskia Sassen - Making liberal democracy work in bad times
Saskia Sassen - Making liberal democracy work in bad times   ((c) openDemocracy)
Self Reflection
Self Reflection   ((c) Jerry Reynolds)
This April 2007 photograph supplied by the Tennessee Valley Authority, shows the cooling tower of the single operating reactor at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring City, Tenn. TVA will decide later this summer whether to complete the second reactor. Experts say nuclear power is poised for a revival...
This April 2007 photograph supplied by the Tennessee Valley Authority, shows the cooling tower of the single operating reactor at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring City, Tenn. TVA will decide later...   (Associated Press)
This April 2007 photograph supplied by the Tennessee Valley Authority, shows the cooling tower of the single operating reactor at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring City, Tenn. TVA will decide later this summer whether to complete the second reactor. Experts say nuclear power is poised for a revival...
This April 2007 photograph supplied by the Tennessee Valley Authority, shows the cooling tower of the single operating reactor at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring City, Tenn. TVA will decide later...   (Associated Press)
The August 13 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, August 6), Global Warming Is A Hoax* examines the history of denial of global warming and how well-funded naysayers who still reject the overwhelming evidence of climate change have obfuscated the science of global warming, misled the public and provided cover...
The August 13 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, August 6), "Global Warming Is A Hoax*" examines the history of denial of global warming and how well-funded naysayers who still reject the overwhelming...   (Associated Press)
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., left, accompanied by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., discusses global warming, Monday, July 30, 2007, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, following a trip to Greenland. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., left, accompanied by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., discusses global warming, Monday, July 30, 2007, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, following a trip...   (Associated Press)
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., left, accompanied by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., discusses global warming, Monday, July 30, 2007, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, following a trip to Greenland. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., left, accompanied by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., discusses global warming, Monday, July 30, 2007, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, following a trip...   (Associated Press)
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore delivers a speech during a conference about climate change in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore delivers a speech during a conference about climate change in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)   (Associated Press)
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore delivers a speech during a conference about climate change in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore delivers a speech during a conference about climate change in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)   (Associated Press)
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore delivers a speech during a conference about climate change in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore delivers a speech during a conference about climate change in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)   (Associated Press)
U.S. Former Vice President Al Gore delivers a speech at the Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 31, 2007, during a meeting with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon. Gore is in Mexico invited by the Mexico City municipality to lecture city residents about climate change Tuesday. (AP...
U.S. Former Vice President Al Gore delivers a speech at the Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 31, 2007, during a meeting with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon. Gore is in...   (Associated Press)
U.S. Former Vice President Al Gore speaks at the Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 31 2007, during a meeting with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon. Gore is in Mexico invited by the Mexico City municipality to lecture city residents about climate change Tuesday.(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
U.S. Former Vice President Al Gore speaks at the Los Pinos presidential residence in Mexico City, Tuesday, July 31 2007, during a meeting with Mexico's President Felipe Calderon. Gore is in Mexico invited...   (Associated Press)
An iceberg melts in Kulusuk Bay, eastern Greenland Tuesday July 17, 2007. The melting of the Greenland ice cap and its effect on the area around Greenland is one of the more immediate effects of climate change. (AP Photo/John McConnico)
An iceberg melts in Kulusuk Bay, eastern Greenland Tuesday July 17, 2007. The melting of the Greenland ice cap and its effect on the area around Greenland is one of the more immediate effects of climate...   (Associated Press)
Al Gore speaks to the crowd at the Live Earth concert at Giants Stadium, Saturday, July 7, 2007 in East Rutherford, N.J., that was part of a 24-hour series spanning seven continents to raise awareness for global warming. On Wednesday July 11, 2007, in Trenton, N.J., a scientific...
Al Gore speaks to the crowd at the Live Earth concert at Giants Stadium, Saturday, July 7, 2007 in East Rutherford, N.J., that was part of a 24-hour series spanning seven continents to raise awareness...   (Associated Press)
Israelis hold a balloon of the globe during the Live Earth concert in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, July 7, 2007 as part of the 24-hour global concert series to raise awareness about climate change. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Israelis hold a balloon of the globe during the Live Earth concert in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, July 7, 2007 as part of the 24-hour global concert series to raise awareness about climate change. (AP...   (Associated Press)
An Israeli man holds up a blown up plastic globe during the Live Earth concert in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, July 7, 2007 as part of the 24-hour global concert series to raise awareness about climate change. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
An Israeli man holds up a blown up plastic globe during the Live Earth concert in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, July 7, 2007 as part of the 24-hour global concert series to raise awareness about climate...   (Associated Press)
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