PBS Frontline 2012 Climate of Doubt 4

The introduction discusses how the perception of climate change has shifted from being a recognized danger to a more contested issue, fueled by campaigns sowing doubt about the science. It also sets up the focus on who is behind this shift and the resulting 'climate of doubt.'

The scene transitions to Chicago, where an influential conference is promoting skepticism about man-made climate change as a hoax, contrasting with a global focus on security threats. This gathering of skeptics aims to position their views in mainstream American politics by opposing established science and media consensus.

Political strategies of climate change skeptics are outlined, emphasizing their grassroots appeal and portrayal as underdogs against the elite. They claim success in winning over the American heartland by framing the debate as a cultural battle, relying on a network of contrarian scientists to support their claims.

Highlighting 2008 as a turning point, skeptics recall being urged to stay silent due to public belief in climate change; instead, they decided to challenge the consensus. They leverage a small group of scientific dissenters, targeting public skepticism and portraying climate change as non-existent or irrelevant, to reshape American opinion.

Barack Obama's presidency seemed to promise progress on climate change with the promotion of 'cap-and-trade' policies. However, the bipartisan support for these ideas was undermined by ingrained skepticism and political tactics that disrupted consensus, arguing for delay in legislative action due to supposed scientific uncertainties.

As climate change policy began to stall, opposition intensified. The Tea Party and other skeptic groups leveraged economic and political dissatisfaction to challenge cap-and-trade policies, framing them as harmful to freedom and the economy, thus persuading some lawmakers to oppose government intervention in climate policy.

Despite numerous investigations debunking Climategate accusations, the incident damaged public trust in climate science. Skeptics capitalized on these events to reinforce their narrative of scientific malpractice and government overreach, further entrenching doubt about climate change and stalling legislative action.

The film discusses how skepticism toward climate change has succeeded in influencing political discourse, causing lawmakers to avoid the issue. This shift is starkly exemplified by the silence of Republican leaders and the dissolution of Congressional committees focused on global warming.

Instances of doubt-based strategies in education and local governance exemplify the broader impact on policy. By questioning scientific reports, skeptics gain legislative victories, typified by North Carolina's resistance to coastal planning based on predicted sea-level rise, showing successful integration of skeptic narrative into law.

The documentary unveils the financial network bolstering the skeptic movement, tracing its roots to fossil fuel industries and libertarian foundations. These networks provide a stronghold for their ideology, promoting free market solutions over scientific consensus, while using sophisticated funding strategies to conceal influence.