I wrote about the moment the fossil fuel coalition joined forces with a PR genius to spread doubt & persuade the public that climate change was not a problem
It happened at a little-known meeting, 30 years ago, in autumn 1992.
It happened at a little-known meeting, 30 years ago, in autumn 1992.
The ‘dean of environmental PR’, E Bruce Harrison, was pitching for a lucrative comms contract with the Global Climate Coalition, which represented the oil, coal, auto, utilities, steel & rail industries.
The GCC was looking to change the narrative on climate change.
The GCC was looking to change the narrative on climate change.
Harrison had a string of campaigns for some of the US's biggest polluters under his belt.
Media historian Melissa Aronczyk @M_Aronczyk, who interviewed him at length before he died last year, says “he was a master at what he did.”
Media historian Melissa Aronczyk @M_Aronczyk, who interviewed him at length before he died last year, says “he was a master at what he did.”
Now he was offering the same tactics against climate regulation.
To persuade people that the scientific facts weren't settled & that policymakers needed to consider how action would (they argued) adversely affect the US economy.
They’d launch an extensive media campaign.
To persuade people that the scientific facts weren't settled & that policymakers needed to consider how action would (they argued) adversely affect the US economy.
They’d launch an extensive media campaign.
Harrison’s team was prolific.
It produced numerous publications - letters to journalists, brochures, newsletters…
Within a year Harrison claimed to have secured over 500 specific media mentions.
It produced numerous publications - letters to journalists, brochures, newsletters…
Within a year Harrison claimed to have secured over 500 specific media mentions.
In Aug 1993, Harrison took stock of progress.
"Activists sounding the alarm over 'global warming' have publicly conceded that they lost ground in the communications arena…”
(from internal doc shared by @TerryYosie)
"Activists sounding the alarm over 'global warming' have publicly conceded that they lost ground in the communications arena…”
(from internal doc shared by @TerryYosie)
& in c.1995, he wrote,
“GCC has successfully turned the tide on press coverage of global climate change science, effectively countering the eco-catastrophe message and asserting the lack of scientific consensus on global warming."
(Doc shared by @M_Aronczyk)
“GCC has successfully turned the tide on press coverage of global climate change science, effectively countering the eco-catastrophe message and asserting the lack of scientific consensus on global warming."
(Doc shared by @M_Aronczyk)
In 1997, 5 years after the pitch, Harrison sold his firm. Meanwhile the GCC had begun to disintegrate.
But the tactics, the playbook, & the message of doubt were now embedded.
Three decades on, the consequences are all around us.
But the tactics, the playbook, & the message of doubt were now embedded.
Three decades on, the consequences are all around us.
More in my feature for the BBC website, brilliantly edited by @mcdermottsarah
bbc.co.uk/news/science-e…
& in DENIAL - the doc gives a close chronology of the 90s.
bbc.co.uk/news/science-e…
& in DENIAL - the doc gives a close chronology of the 90s.
The whole Big Oil vs the World series is now available to watch on iplayer
1, DENIAL - bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod…
2, DOUBT - bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod…
3, DELAY - bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod…
#ClimateCrisis #BigOilVsTheWorld #bigoil
1, DENIAL - bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod…
2, DOUBT - bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod…
3, DELAY - bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod…
#ClimateCrisis #BigOilVsTheWorld #bigoil
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