How Do Folks Get Tricked Into Believing Anti-EV, Anti-Photo voltaic, Anti-Wind Myths?

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Studying by Scott’s lengthy change 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 excited about how individuals find yourself consuming and believing such misinformation. I’ve recognized individuals 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 believe it’s vital to make a few factors very clearly: 1) With widespread adoption of fresh applied sciences (most notably, solar energy, wind energy, and electrical autos) in addition to a number of different core options, we are able to cease the local weather disaster. 2) There isn’t a lifelike plan to cease the local weather disaster that doesn’t contain widespread adoption of photo voltaic vitality, wind vitality, and electrical autos. The concept which you can clear up the local weather disaster with out photo voltaic, wind, or EVs is looney at finest, or manufactured disinformation at worst.

Whereas I believe most misinformation on these clear applied sciences is unfold by individuals who don’t know higher, I do assume it sometimes stems from purposeful disinformation created by particular pursuits, most notably fossil gasoline industries. So, let’s discover how this misinformation most likely spreads.

1. Fossil gasoline industries or corporations fund “data sources.” These could possibly be assume tanks, they could possibly be accounts on X or Fb, or they could possibly be someplace in between (they could possibly be political consultants and messengers, politicians, YouTubers, and so on.).
2. These sources put out deceptive arguments and misinformation. I hesitate to repeat among the widespread misinformation, however it pertains to issues just like the vitality wanted to supply wind generators and photo voltaic panels, the potential and price of batteries, how the grid works and what it might probably deal with, and the way good or not these applied sciences are for the atmosphere.
3. Then quite a lot of sources — paid and unpaid — unfold that misinformation/disinformation, and unfold it, and unfold it, and unfold it. If you repeat one thing sufficient — for years, for instance — it begins to sink into the cultural consciousness. Folks 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 increasingly more by individuals who 100% assume it’s true, “helpful idiots” you may say.

This has occurred with photo voltaic panels, wind generators, and electrical autos for years. It continues to result in worry and inaction on crucial applied sciences for reducing air air pollution and stopping local weather change.

Earlier than protecting 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 noticed how a lot misinformation was unfold extensively and constantly, and the way simply individuals assume issues are true which aren’t. It turned a transparent mission of ours to debunk misinformation. However the way in which media works right this moment, with the bubbles and big echo chambers that exist right this moment, 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 individuals — 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 “the way it occurs” 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 individuals are disingenuous, some are unwilling to vary their thoughts even when it’s apparent they’re unsuitable, however some individuals are keen to be taught and develop. So, whereas it might appear ineffective at occasions, it’s not. If we might help individuals perceive the reality and may even assist some individuals perceive how this funnel of misinformation works, we are able to make a distinction. I do assume it’s vital to not anticipate the worst from individuals. I believe it’s higher to imagine individuals are misinformed somewhat than paid brokers of disinformation. I believe 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 among the time.