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Studying by means of Scott’s lengthy alternate with an Extinction Riot activist, and particularly seeing the activist repeat clear misinformation relating to wind generators, photo voltaic panels, and electrical autos, I bought to occupied with how folks find yourself consuming and believing such misinformation. I’ve identified folks of all kinds who’ve fallen for these myths, and I truly did so a bit myself earlier than I labored on this enterprise/trade (~15 years in the past). However how does it truly occur?
Earlier than I get into that, I feel it’s necessary to make a few factors very clearly: 1) With widespread adoption of unpolluted applied sciences (most notably, solar energy, wind energy, and electrical autos) in addition to a couple of different core options, we are able to cease the local weather disaster. 2) There is no such thing as a sensible plan to cease the local weather disaster that doesn’t contain widespread adoption of photo voltaic power, wind power, and electrical autos. The concept that you would be able to remedy the local weather disaster with out photo voltaic, wind, or EVs is looney at greatest, or manufactured disinformation at worst.
Whereas I feel most misinformation on these clear applied sciences is unfold by individuals who don’t know higher, I do suppose it sometimes stems from purposeful disinformation created by particular pursuits, most notably fossil gasoline industries. So, let’s discover how this misinformation in all probability spreads.
- Fossil gasoline industries or firms fund “information sources.” These might be suppose tanks, they might be accounts on X or Fb, or they might be someplace in between (they might be political consultants and messengers, politicians, YouTubers, and so forth.).
- These sources put out deceptive arguments and misinformation. I hesitate to repeat a number of the frequent misinformation, but it surely pertains to issues just like the power wanted to supply wind generators and photo voltaic panels, the aptitude and value of batteries, how the grid works and what it may deal with, and the way good or not these applied sciences are for the atmosphere.
- Then quite a lot of sources — paid and unpaid — unfold that misinformation/disinformation, and unfold it, and unfold it, and unfold it. While you repeat one thing sufficient — for years, for instance — it begins to sink into the cultural consciousness. Individuals begin to imagine the lies, the myths, the misinformation. To some extent, the misinformation is unfold by individuals who know higher initially, however over time, it’s unfold an increasing number of by individuals who 100% suppose it’s true, “useful idiots” you would possibly say.
This has occurred with photo voltaic panels, wind generators, and electrical autos for years. It continues to result in worry and inaction on an important applied sciences for slicing air air pollution and stopping local weather change.
Earlier than overlaying cleantech as a profession, I keep in mind seeing a few of this misinformation about wind generators. I noticed it sufficient that I simply assumed it was true. As I bought into the media trade extra deeply, I spotted how a lot misinformation was unfold broadly and persistently, and the way simply folks assume issues are true which aren’t. It turned a transparent mission of ours to debunk misinformation. However the way in which media works in the present day, with the bubbles and large echo chambers that exist in the present day, you’ll be able to’t cease the fixed spreading of misinformation. So, at this level, it’s very laborious to cease widespread myths from taking maintain and convincing folks — together with strongly caring activists just like the Extinction Riot man — from appearing towards their very own pursuits and spreading the misinformation additional.
Returning to the “how it happens” record, we are able to’t utterly cease this funnel of misinformation, however the extra we are able to reply in easy and clear methods to individuals who have fallen beneath its spell, the higher. Some persons are disingenuous, some are unwilling to vary their thoughts even when it’s apparent they’re mistaken, however some persons are prepared to be taught and develop. So, whereas it might appear ineffective at occasions, it’s not. If we will help folks perceive the reality and may even assist some folks perceive how this funnel of misinformation works, we are able to make a distinction. I do suppose it’s necessary to not count on the worst from folks. I feel it’s higher to imagine persons are misinformed moderately than paid brokers of disinformation. I feel it’s higher to be understanding and work from the place the individual is to get to the reality. That won’t work more often than not, however it should work a number of the time.
