Climate of Doubt

Gr 10 Up—Correspondent John Hockenberry interviews people on both sides of the climate debate to examine the public's changed perspective toward the issue. Conservative groups such as the Heartland Institute and the Cato Institute lead the anti-climate change debate and spend large sums of money to influence elections. Their spokespersons have challenged the science and worked to break down the public consensus that global warming exists and that humans play a major role. Hockenberry's analysis ties this change to the downturn in the economy. The recession made people afraid of financial collapse and the climate change doubters saw their chance. The results are outlined and include Cap and Trade legislation failing to pass through Congress; the Tea Party growth; the increasing influence of alternative science views and their expression at rallies, in publications, and at meetings such as the American Dream Summit. The goal is to confuse the issue and stop the debate by creating doubt in the existence of climate change and contempt for those who support the science. This program asserts the thesis that free market people and anti-liberals have united with climate change doubters and are working to achieve a limited government. Social science classes, and especially economics classes, can utilize this film to study a timely issue and to spark debate.—Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, Mt. Carmel, IL