Environmental and climate denialism

Text Arend Hoogervorst Photograph Unsplash

Environmental or climate denialism has been around for decades, simmering as an undercurrent, until picked up by proponents such as Bjørn Lomborg¹ and Donald Trump. These individuals often denied the science behind environmental and climate issues, or argued minutia and side-tracking discussions to irrelevant distractions.

Environmental denialism is a form of scepticism or denial that challenges the scientific understanding of environmental issues, particularly climate change. It can involve outright rejection of the science, or questioning its extent, severity, or human influence.

Some have argued that environmental denialism was originally “developed” by certain business interests who were looking for a response to such environmental and shareholder group initiatives such as “greenwash”, ESG (Environment, Social and Governance), Sustainable Consumption and Production, Carbon Reporting and Monitoring, Sustainable Packaging, and Low-Carbon Transport. All of which involved some short- and medium-term increases in costs (mostly capital and set-up costs) and reduced profits.

Greenwashing is a deceptive marketing tactic where a company portrays itself or its products as more environmentally friendly than they truly are. It involves making false or misleading claims about a company’s environmental impact to deceive consumers and gain a positive public image.

Often, the focus is on the cause or consequences of, for example, climate change, rather than exploring ways to mitigate the negative impacts. Climate change in South Africa has manifested itself, not so much in increased rainfall, but rather in the increased intensity of storms. This means that instead of receiving 50mm of soft, soaking rain over a 24-hour period, the same 50mm of rain falls in a 20-minute intense storm, resulting in less soil infiltration and more flooding. In such situations, we should focus on mitigating the occurrences, such as by enhancing stormwater protection, improving storage facilities, and upgrading stormwater management systems, rather than debating endlessly whether the cause is natural or Human-Induced.

Environmental and Climate Denial Quotes by Donald Trump

“They never talk about the environment anymore. You know why? […] It’s one of the great scams of all time.”

“The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.”

“It’s [sea level rise] going to create more oceanfront property.”

Environmental and Climate Denial Quotes by Bjørn Lomborg

“Global warming is real – it is man-made and it is an important problem. But it is not the end of the world.”

“Just because there is a problem doesn’t mean that we have to solve it, if the cure is going to be more expensive than the original ailment.”

“On average, global warming is not going to harm the developing world.”

Critical environmental facts

South Africans only recycle approximately 10% of their waste annually.

South Africans waste a significant amount of water each year. Approximately 37% to 42% of the potable water supplied is unaccounted for, meaning it’s lost through leaks, wastage, and illegal connections. This equates to roughly 1,580 million cubic meters of water wasted annually. (Equivalent of 632,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools)

South Africans annually waste significant amounts of energy. A considerable portion is attributed to food waste, estimated to be enough to power the City of Johannesburg for roughly 16 weeks, according to WWF South Africa. Furthermore, a large portion of municipal waste, estimated to be 90% or more, is landfilled or illegally dumped, contributing to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Practical green initiatives

Resource Efficiency and Waste Reduction:

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Sustainable Packaging
• Water Conservation
• Resource-Efficient Production

Carbon Emission Reduction and Climate Action:

• Green Buildings
• Renewable Energy:
• Low-Carbon Transport
• Carbon Reporting and Monitoring

Sustainable Practices and Partnerships:

• Mindful Purchasing

In South Africa, where we cherish freedom of speech, we should rather focus our efforts on supporting “green initiatives” and practices, and adopt sound environmental and climate policies and practices. We should challenge our elected representatives to adopt and implement greater use of solar energy (solar geysers are a no-brainer in our country with between 300 and 320 days of sun per year), resource optimisation (reduce, re-use, recycle), and water and energy conservation. It is also critical that the Electorate hold their elected representatives accountable for their actions, policies and promises.

“Accountability breeds response-ability.”

STEPHEN COVEY

Notes

Bjørn Lomborg¹

Bjørn Lomborg, author of “The Sceptical Environmentalist”, has established himself as the world’s leading ‘lukewarmer’. He does not reject the basic physics of the greenhouse effect, but he denies that climate change poses a significant threat to the planet.

About the author

Arend Hoogervorst is an environmental scientist with over 45 years of experience in environmental management and sustainable development in South Africa, spanning local and central government, commerce and industry, and private practice.