The Language of Climate Politics: Fossil-Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It

With incisive linguistic analysis, Dr. Genevieve Guenther shows that the climate debate is not, in fact, neatly polarizedDLwith Republicans obstructing climate action and Democrats merely advancing climate solutions. Both sides often talk about the climate crisis in surprisingly similar terms. This bipartisan echo reflects a centrist consensus that helps to keep the fossil-energy system in place even as global heating accelerates.

Weaving this analysis through fascinating critical histories of the terms that dominate the language of climate politicsDLwe, alarmist, cost, growth, "India and China," innovation, and resilienceDLDr. Guenther shows how this consensus is established. Fossil-fuel interests weaponize the discourses of science, economics, and even activism, co-opting and twisting words to help greenwash their plans for ongoing extraction. But all too often climate scientists, economists, and even advocates will unwittingly echo the false and dangerous assumptions of their supposed political opponents. This apparent agreement between foes, filtered through the news media, not only influences our common-sense yet mistaken views about the climate crisis but also enables powerful decisionmakers blocking decarbonization to justify their corporate and policy actions that threaten us all.

Ultimately, The Language of Climate Politics is an inspiring call to armsDLa book that equips readers with powerful new terms that will enable them to fight more effectively for a livable future.