Revealing the Personality Behind Climate Change Denial – Michael Mann
It’s been suggested, with backing from peer-reviewed studies, that those who deny climate change are often remarkably unpleasant individuals. Michael Mann, infamous for his part in ‘Climategate’, is a prime example. His social media content, filled with arrogance and condescension, is telling. Much like the revealing nature of the East Anglia emails, one would hardly consider him the ideal companion for any venture, especially not one as significant as advocating climate science.
Mann’s attitude towards his opponents, and even towards those on his political side who show any signs of faltering, exudes frustration and dismay. The political majority has outright rejected their proposition. His concern is clear in one of his tweets: ‘Scientists brace for the worst as Trump’s administration removes climate change references from the official website’. There is an alarming implication here, that the ‘car-keys’ have been handed to polluters and fossil fuel moguls aiming to drive our planet towards an environmental precipice.
One conversation that involves both Conservatives and climate change features Bob Inglis and Michael Mann. In their view, humankind has ignited the proverbial fuse, and now our planet demands payback. A somewhat unsettling statement made by Mann asserts that the relentless war of deception, fueled by fossil interests against science, means ‘they’re knowingly spreading falsehoods’.
There is a risk, Mann posits, of the United States transforming into an authoritarian regime, controlled by potentates and fossil fuel moguls. It’s distressing that US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement occurred, yet values of multilateral climate action demonstrate their strength and capacity to endure, surpassing the political constraints within any nation. It’s a grim remark, but he labels ‘MAGA’ as ‘the embodiment of all that is perilous in our world’.
He doesn’t shy away from expressing that such individuals should be seen and confronted as grave threats to us and our planet. His anger is particularly apparent when homing in on a select few, individuals who are pernicious and powerful, but whose number is small. According to Mann, the actions of Musk, Putin, Trump, and their MAGA followers represent a significant hazard to us and the world.
Implications are clear in his words: a warmer planet means more severe wildfires. Trump remains a figure of denigration in his eyes, cited as ‘one of the most repugnant individuals’, someone who despises America save for those willing to show him obedience. Unsurprisingly, Murdoch is characterized as central to the fossil fuel misinformation campaign.
America risks descending into authoritarian rule, dictated by financial and fossil fuel powerhouses, and potentially becoming a petrostate. Possibly a glib remark, but it paints a chilling scenario. More recently, he rebuked the energy secretary’s plan to change climate reports, likening it to Stalin’s tactics.
Condemnation continues for Zeldin and EPA, who, he believes, aren’t protecting Americans from environmental hazards as they should. The rollback measures only seem to compound the issue. He acquits the reputation of DOE science studies already in decline. The term ‘enDANGERment finding’ is quite fitting; fossil fuel emissions are undeniably harmful to our world and us.
Trump and polluters, given their history of repackaging old climate denial points, can’t be this oblivious. The bitter truth, according to Mann, is that they’re counting on the general public’s ignorance about the topic. This pile of complexities would certainly occupy any psychologist.
Mann has walked into his own trap by his persistent actions, digging himself deeper into the pit. His behavior, mirroring that of Al Gore, caused more harm than good to their cause, seeing that other colleagues appear more rational and low-profile when addressing the same matter.