2008/05/20 by Peter Jacques, Riley E. Dunlap, Mark Freeman · 16 citations
Social Sciences · Environmental Science · #Climate Change Communication and Perception #Social Media and Politics #Environmental Education and Sustainability
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/09644010802055576
openalex publication_date 2008/05/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Environmental scepticism denies the seriousness of environmental problems, and self-professed ‘sceptics’ claim to be unbiased analysts combating ‘junk science’. This study quantitatively analyses 141 English-language environmentally sceptical books published between 1972 and 2005. We find that over 92 per cent of these books, most published in the US since 1992, are linked to conservative think tanks (CTTs). Further, we analyse CTTs involved with environmental issues and find that 90 per cent of them espouse environmental scepticism. We conclude that scepticism is a tactic of an elite-driven counter-movement designed to combat environmentalism, and that the successful use of this tactic has contributed to the weakening of US commitment to environmental protection.