Climate change science is often at the heart of heated debates, where political and economic interests perpetuate persistent disinformation. Yet evidence continues to mount about human impact, with greenhouse gas emissions still rising despite warnings. A phenomenon less known than climate skepticism is emerging: "climate doomism," which predicts the inevitable collapse of our planet and undermines efforts for action.
Some "doomers" believe it is too late to avoid catastrophic climate change.
Illustration image Pixabay
In their book
Science Under Siege, renowned experts Michael Mann and Peter Hotez analyze this trend. Doomism generates viral content on social media, described as "apocalyptic climate porn," with dramatic but unfounded claims about ice melt or uncontrollable warming. These narratives capture attention and unintentionally serve the interests of polluters by discouraging collective action.
Attacks against scientists sometimes come from supposed supporters of the climate cause, who accuse them of selling "hopium" – an illusory hope. These divisions are exploited by malicious actors using bots and trolls to sow discord. The goal is twofold: to convince people that action is futile and to fragment the community of climate defenders.
Even respected researchers, such as Kevin Anderson or James Hansen, are drawn into this spiral. Hansen, for example, challenges scientific consensus and advocates for risky solutions like geoengineering, which involves artificially modifying the climate. These approaches present dangers, such as unpredictable consequences for the atmosphere or a perverse effect encouraging continued emissions.
Ultimately, the beneficiaries of these internal conflicts are fossil fuel industries and oil-producing states, who prefer to see society give up on taking action. The polarization of debates on social media, amplified by toxic messages, diverts attention from the realistic and urgent solutions needed to limit global warming.
Geoengineering
Geoengineering refers to large-scale technological interventions aimed at deliberately modifying the Earth's climate system. Among the proposals is the injection of reflective particles into the stratosphere to block part of the solar radiation.
These techniques are controversial due to their potential risks. For example, they could disrupt rainfall patterns or cause unforeseen side effects on ecosystems, worsening inequalities between regions.
Another major drawback is "moral hazard": if people believe a technical solution exists, they might relax their efforts to reduce emissions at the source, thereby delaying truly sustainable action.
Research on geoengineering is in its early stages, and many emphasize the need for strict regulations and thorough studies before any implementation, to avoid irreversible disasters.