Today, the world is suffering more from the climate crisis because a climate denier is ruler of the most powerful nation in the world.
World Environment Day 2026 emphasizes the “urgent signals” the Earth is sending through rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and ecosystem disruption. In your view, what are the most important climate signals that policymakers and the public should be paying attention to right now?
I don’t know how to answer that question. All extreme weather events cause pain and suffering. The climate crisis contains no borders. The climate crisis is not one event, but a continuous series of events – all are tragic. Visually the Arctic is undergoing the most rapid change. The Far North is heating up, both physically and geopolitically. A New Cold War is emerging over control of the raw materials being revealed.
Much of your work focuses on climate denial and scientific disinformation. How do misinformation campaigns affect public understanding of climate change, and what can scientists, educators, and journalists do to counter these narratives more effectively?
Climate denial and scientific misinformation are the obstacles for political action against the climate crisis. They have created false doubt about the science. So decision-making is being made without understanding of the science. Since we cannot “see” climate change, the science must see it for us, but their messaging is being silenced by disinformation. What are we to do? A problem is that too many are silent. Everyone must speak out on disinformation – it must be discredited. If you are silent, you are an enabler of disinformation.
Your book examines climate denial in American politics. Have the arguments used by climate deniers changed over time, and if so, what are the most common narratives you encounter today?
The news media often make a big deal about changes in climate denial. A favourite example now is that they are causing delay. I have found any changes from a practical point of view are subtle and have not changed in substance. Climate denial objects to any regulations about climate change, especially restrictions of the use of fossil fuels. The arguments of climate denial are old and tired, and have repeatedly endless times. That pattern will likely continue.
Younger generations are often at the forefront of climate activism. What impact have youth movements had on climate policy and public awareness over the past decade?
Sadly, they are the ones that have kept the movement alive and have contributed the most to limited progress that has taken place. They cannot do it alone. The rest of us have to speak out as well.
If you could deliver one message to world leaders on World Environment Day 2026, what would it be?
Today, the world is suffering more from the climate crisis because a climate denier is ruler of the most powerful nation in the world. While battles have been lost, we can never lose the war. The stakes are too high to allow that to happen. The future will not be determined by one person – no matter how powerful. The future depends on us.
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