How to Talk to Climate Deniers about the Climate Crisis

Although it’s easy for us to think that everyone is as dedicated towards saving the planet and combating climate change as we are, the truth of the matter is that there is still a huge amount of misinformation and an unfathomable number of ‘climate sceptics’, (or ‘climate deniers’ as the Guardian has recently renamed them) out there, sometimes even within our own family. While climate deniers need to be confronted and challenged head-on, there should also be an emphasis on empathy and understanding, as countless studies have shown that berating climate deniers for their harmful and misinformed views only causes them to cling onto these views with an even tighter fist. To help you navigate these conversations, we’ve collated a list of possible responses you can make use of to help combat some of the most commonly held climate-denier beliefs and climate myths.

“I’m sick of scientists lying about climate change – it’s not real!”

It’s really important to focus on and address the emotions conveyed behind these kinds of claims. What makes them think that scientists are lying? What makes them think that the climate crisis isn’t real? Appealing to their emotions could reveal how they might feel overwhelmed and confused about all the conflicting information regarding the climate crisis, and how denying the whole thing helps makes them feel safer. It’s really important to emphasise how the climate crisis is already having devastating effects on people’s lives, usually the most marginalised. Give them real examples like the people of Kiribati who are being forced to flee their homes as sea levels rise, or farmers in Afghanistan who are being forcibly displaced as a result of ongoing droughts, or even the 70+ people who died during the power grid failure in Texas last month, the unnatural storm of which is a direct cause of climate change. The climate crisis affects everyone, and its effects will only rapidly worsen the longer we deny the truth of it.

Rapidly rising sea levels are forcing families in Kiribati to be displaced from their homes

“Climate change is natural.”

Although it’s true that the earth’s climate has varied significantly throughout it’s 4.5-billion-year history, there is nothing natural about climate change as it is happening right now. More than 97% of climate scientists agree human activity is the leading cause of the warming of the Earth’s climate over the last century. Since industrialisation began, global temperatures have been rising, accelerating in the past 30 years and are currently at their highest on record. Moreover, it’s predicted that the climate is currently changing at a rate faster than our ability to adapt to it.

“Global warming can’t be real – just look how cold it’s been lately!”

It’s really important to emphasise that climate is not the same as weather. What’s more, the recent snowstorms in the UK are a direct result of the climate crisis: the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation that brings in warm weather to Europe, is currently at its weakest in over a millennium, and is only set to weaken if global heating continues. The weakening AMOC will result in more extreme weather in the near future, potentially leading to a drastic rise in sea levels and having severe effects on marine life. Scientists have predicted that continued high greenhouse gas emissions are likely to trigger a collapse in the AMOC in this century, which could have drastic consequences for the environment.

The recent snow storms of Storm Darcy were a result of global warming

“It’s overpopulation that’s the real problem!”

Overpopulation isn’t the problem, but in fact our unsustainable lifestyles, specifically those of the Global North. The poorest 50% of the global populations, who are usually blamed for overpopulation and the climate crisis, are responsible for not even 10% of all carbon emissions, while the richest 10% of the global population are responsible 50% of emissions. This is a matter of justice as populations of the Global South are being forced to bear the brunt of the climate crisis while contributing the least towards it. In 2020, Oxfam predicted that the average person in the UK emits more carbon in two weeks than the citizens of seven African countries emit in an entire year. What’s more, overpopulation nearly always shifts the blame from people in power onto the marginalised populations of the Global South, ultimately having harmful effects on BIPOC women (watch an informative Instagram reel on the topic here). We should focus more in combatting the unsustainable systems we currently have in place than blaming others for being responsible for climate change.

Blaming overpopulation as the cause of climate change is a matter of justice

“We can’t just stop using fossil fuels overnight! Think of how many people will lose their jobs and what it will do to our economy!”

Just because many people are dependent on the fossil fuel industry for their livelihoods, doesn’t mean that there can’t be change. In Germany, for example, while 20,000 people work in the coal industry, over 100 000 people are employed by its wind energy sector1. Some countries and energy companies are actually putting in the effort to prioritise a just transition to renewable energy, which would ensure that fossil fuel industry workers are guaranteed jobs as fossil fuels are phased out, however, we need to hold governments accountable to ensure this type of transition is realised.

we have to ensure governments are held accountable in our transition to renewable energy

“I’m so overwhelmed by the climate crisis – surely we’re too late to act?”

Feelings of despair and pessimism are appropriate considering the current state of the climate, but it’s really important to not give up, because there really is still time to act and help create a sustainable future for humans and nature, especially if we act together. Sometimes our feelings of despair can motivate us to take action in order to prevent the worst from happening. Marine biologist and policy expert, Dr Ayana Johnson, encourages us to maximise our unique skills in the climate movement: “Make art to inform and inspire, use law to fight for climate justice, create websites to help us organise, cook meals to nourish activist, throw parties to build community”. If you have the money, donate towards a climate justice organisation such as the Friends of the Earth or the Environmental Justice Foundation. If you have the time, actively get involved with your local climate change group! Just because everything has been happening virtually due to the pandemic doesn’t mean that climate movement has come to a halt. There are still countless talks, panels (check out this one by The Yikes Podcast!) and events you can learn from and engage with online during this time, as well as courses such as this one on climate change solutions, or this one by @ClimateInColour that teaches the colonial history of the climate crisis.

But always remember to take to prioritise your own mental health. Confrontations in general, especially those with climate deniers, are difficult and emotionally taxing, so it’s important to remember that it’s a-okay for you to avoid partaking in one in order to preserve and protect your energy. Sometimes it’s actually more productive to channel your energy into mobilising action with people who are already convinced of the facts and genuinely want to help make a difference. If you feel your energy being sapped at the prospect of convincing Uncle Frank that climate change is not a “liberal hoax” like he says it is, rather channel that energy into taking action like writing to your MP about their proposed climate efforts or convincing your friend to take part in a campaigns skills webinar with you!

In conclusion, when it comes to the climate movement, the more the merrier, but don’t let the (hopefully) few climate deniers in your life slow you down and hinder you from contributing towards real environmental and social change. For every one climate denier, there are bound to be hundreds of others who care and are willing to make a difference like you. Be sure to seek them out, and take action, together.

Read more about the topic of this article here:

1. https://blog.ecosia.org/how-to-talk-to-your-family-about-climate-change/

2. https://medium.com/@simon_black/climate-deniers-arent-stupid-they-re-empowered-eb3188e5c883

3. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/12/five-ways-to-talk-to-your-family-and-friends-about-the-climate-crisis-this-christmas

Image Credits:

1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/31/new-zealand-considers-creating-climate-change-refugee-visas

2. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/08/storm-darcy-snow-ice-further-disruption-across-uk

3. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/mar/19/overpopulation-cities-environment-developing-world-racist-paul-ehrlich

4. https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/fossil-fuels-in-the-northland/