Strong climate laws spur opposition
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Fossil fuels companies do not appear to be the main drivers of anti-climate sentiment.
New research suggests anti-climate groups appear to thrive in countries with strong environmental policies, rather than those with the highest greenhouse gas emissions or reliance on fossil fuels.
A recent study, published in PLOS One by Stanford University scholars Jared Furuta and Patricia Bromley, analysed data from more than 160 countries.
It suggests that these groups do not primarily form due to economic interests, such as oil dependence, but instead arise as a reaction to the growing influence of environmental policies and institutions.
“More than fifty countries around the world are now home to at least one counter climate change organisation: nonprofits that work to undermine climate science and policy,” the authors stated.
“These organisations have long been active in the US, but in recent years they have evolved to form a global movement; they arise especially in countries with the strongest environmental policies and institutions.”
Their findings challenge conventional views that link climate change denial primarily to industry interests, such as those of fossil fuel companies.
Instead, the study identifies reactionary cultural dynamics as a major driver of opposition, suggesting that counter climate groups emerge in response to the increasing visibility of climate change discourse in policy and public debate.
The data reveals that 26 per cent of countries worldwide had at least one counter climate organisation by 2022, with the United States hosting the majority - 350 out of 548 such groups.
Other English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, also had relatively high numbers.
The study suggests that policymakers and environmental advocates should consider the potential for reactionary movements when designing climate strategies.
“The success of the pro-environmental movement can create conditions that enable the counter climate change movement to grow,” the authors note.
