The Psychology of Climate Change Deniers

When there is irrefutable evidence of serious and rapid climate change, why do we still have climate change deniers?

By Professor Nigel MacLennan

Originally Published on Psychreg.org and last updated on 09 February 2023

When there is irrefutable evidence of serious and rapid climate change, why do we still have climate change deniers? What is their psychology? Are they irrational? For most, probably not. In fact, in their minds, they have good reason to deny that climate change is something that they should act on.

Credibility

Have climate change deniers been lied to before by their governments and institutions? Yes, frequently. In the recent past, they were told that diesel was better for the environment, and that was false. They were deliberately misled and deceived on diesel pollution figures by large corporations, with the emissions software scandals.

Climate change deniers have many good reasons not to trust what they are told. They are aware that “politics is the art of deniable deceit”, have seen that “politicians only lie when their lips move”, and know that “a diplomat is someone who goes abroad to lie for their country”, to quote just some of the well-used phrases that have endured because of their self-evident truth.

Some people don’t believe a word that comes out of any large organisation; they are certain they are being lied to, they just don’t know which part of what they are hearing are the lies. Accordingly, they distrust everything.

Whose fault is it that the climate change deniers don’t believe institutions? Frankly the tale of the child who ‘cried wolf’ comes to mind; if institutions lie to their stakeholders on such a frequent basis, it should come as no surprise that they are distrusted even when they are telling the truth.

Frankly, it is the same solution as is always required to help people in change denial: listening, compassion, engagement, education, incentives, and integrity. If we are to encourage the climate change deniers to help themselves and all future generations, we must understand why they are in denial, and help them to help us all.

You can listen to and read the full article here: https://www.psychreg.org/psychology-climate-change-deniers/.