Climate Cover-Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming

Climate Cover-Up exposes the organized efforts to create doubt about climate change science and delay action on global warming. Author James Hoggan, a public relations expert, documents the networks of think tanks, front groups, and individuals working to confuse the public discourse around climate science. The book traces funding sources and chronicles coordinated media campaigns designed to manufacture uncertainty about established climate research. Hoggan draws on internal documents, public records, and interviews to reveal the tactics used by organizations and companies with vested interests in maintaining fossil fuel dependence. Through investigation of specific cases and campaigns, Climate Cover-Up demonstrates how public relations strategies borrowed from the tobacco industry playbook have been deployed to influence climate policy. The narrative follows key players and organizations as they work to shape public opinion through carefully crafted messaging and strategic placement of contrarian viewpoints in media. The book serves as both an exposé of corporate disinformation techniques and a broader commentary on the manipulation of scientific discourse for political and economic aims. Its findings raise questions about the intersection of corporate interests, public policy, and the communication of scientific consensus.

Readers describe this book as a detailed investigation into organized climate change denial campaigns. Many reviews note the extensive documentation of PR tactics, front groups, and funding sources used to create uncertainty about climate science. Readers appreciated: - Clear breakdown of specific disinformation techniques - Well-researched examples and evidence - Accessible writing style for non-scientists Common criticisms: - Too focused on Canadian examples - Some sections feel repetitive - Limited coverage of solutions or action steps Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (276 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (31 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Documents the PR playbook used to manufacture doubt" - Goodreads reviewer "Helps identify propaganda vs legitimate scientific debate" - Amazon reviewer "Could have provided more international context beyond North America" - LibraryThing reviewer

Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes, Erik M. Conway Documents how industry-funded scientists created campaigns to cast doubt on scientific evidence regarding tobacco, acid rain, and climate change.

The Heat Is On by Ross Gelbspan Exposes the fossil fuel industry's efforts to discredit climate science through public relations campaigns and policy influence.

The New Climate War by Michael E. Mann Traces the evolution of climate change denial tactics from outright rejection to more subtle forms of delay and deflection.

Losing Earth by Nathaniel Rich Chronicles the period from 1979 to 1989 when humanity first understood climate change and came close to solving it before political forces intervened.

The Madhouse Effect by Michael E. Mann, Tom Toles Maps the intersection of climate science denial and political manipulation through the examination of specific campaigns and tactics.

🌍 Author James Hoggan founded DeSmogBlog.com in 2006, one of the first websites dedicated to exposing climate change denial and tracking the funding behind it. 🏢 The book reveals how ExxonMobil spent more than $16 million between 1998 and 2005 funding groups that promoted climate change skepticism. 📊 The term "climate change denial machine" was popularized by this book, describing the network of think tanks, PR firms, and industry groups working to create doubt about climate science. ✍️ Hoggan, a public relations expert himself, wrote the book after becoming disturbed by how PR tactics he knew well were being used to mislead the public about climate change. 💭 The book documents the "Oregon Petition," which claimed to have 31,000 scientists opposing climate change consensus but was found to include fictitious names and TV characters among its signatures.