From climate change denial to war-mongering nationalism

This article explores how the interaction between national interests, large corporate interests tied to polluting activities, and disinformation collectively influence international climate change policy, with a specific focus on the 2009 Copenhagen Accords. It highlights the complex relationships between politics and corporations in hindering successful climate change resolutions, the polarizing effects of national ideologies on climate change discourse, and the aspirations of developing nations to reach a similar level of economic development as their developed counterparts, often driven by similar national ideologies. These combined factors significantly hindered the effectiveness of the Copenhagen Accords and undermined the potential of subsequent international climate agreements and summits. The Copenhagen Accords are identified here as a pivotal moment in history when nationalist and corporate forces formed new alliances and sought novel ways to undermine climate resolutions. The denial machine’s ability to hinder cooperative and coordinated efforts between nation-states was demonstrated through an unprecedented attack on the summit using media and social media platforms to disseminate disinformation and fuel denialism. This event also foreshadowed the role of social media in subsequent political events, such as the 2016 American election and Brexit, where public opinion was heavily influenced. The article argues that the patterns seen in Copenhagen have since been repeated in various countries, with advancements in information technology combined with deregulation offering disruptive forces more powerful tools, such as bots, spammers, and astroturfers. The research underscores the urgent need to address these challenges to forge a cooperative and coordinated global response to climate change in the Anthropocene.