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Trending: The Denial Files: 4. From Covid conspiracy to climate change denial

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The Denial Files

13/11/2021 GMT

4. From Covid conspiracy to climate change denial

BBC World Service - Trending, The Denial Files, 4. From Covid conspiracy to climate change denial

A movement infected with pandemic conspiracies is now peddling climate change falsehoods

An online movement infected with extreme pandemic conspiracies is now peddling falsehoods about climate change in countries all around the world.

Covid conspiracists are now shifting focus to climate change. An online movement infected with extreme pandemic conspiracies is looking for new territory as debates over lockdowns and vaccines subside in many richer countries. 

We hear from Matthew in New Zealand. His family is really worried about the future of the planet, but he’s involved in groups where people believe that climate change is a “hoax” designed to limit our personal freedoms. They’ve swapped in “climate science” for “Covid” in their viral online conspiracy theories. Matthew found himself drawn into this conspiratorial belief system through a global anti-lockdown movement called The White Rose. The White Rose has local channels around the world, and researchers at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue think tank say the local group dedicated to New Zealand is where climate change conspiracies have taken off the most. Researchers point out that a ready-made network of people who have fallen for misleading claims about global Covid-19 plots has created a receptive audience for lies about climate change.

And in Germany, we hear about how members of the Covid-denying Querdenken group travelled to a region devastated by floods, intimidating helpers and spreading confusion about what had taken place. Locals were mystified and insulted, but it was another sign that climate change has become the new front line in the fight against online misinformation. 

Presenter: Marianna Spring
Reporter: Jessica Bateman
Producer: Ant Adeane

Trending: The Denial Files

How disinformation and denial are threatening the fight to prevent climate catastrophe.

Does the battle to prevent catastrophic climate change depend on winning the information war? 

In a special series coinciding with the crucial Cop 26 summit, BBC Trending investigates how disinformation and denial are threatening efforts to combat man-made climate change in different ways around the world. 

The overwhelming weight of global scientific opinion agrees that humanity is at a turning point where only urgent and dramatic action will save the planet from disaster. 

But even as evidence of the dangers mounts up, the push to avert crisis is under attack on a range of fronts. 

This series will explore how vested interests are adopting new tactics to delay, block, or distract attention from what science says needs to be done. And it will examine the role of social media in spreading baseless conspiracy theories that warp debate with potential real life consequences. 

The series will also speak to the scientists and activists who are determined to fight back against the disinformation before it’s too late.

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4. From Covid conspiracy to climate change denial

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