Articles | Volume 8, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-8-81-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-8-81-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Climate denial and the classroom: a review
Gerald Kutney
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
independent scholar: Ottawa, K1V 1Y6, Canada
Cited articles
Agri Aware: Programmes, https://www.agriaware.ie/programmes/ (last access: 31 May 2024), 2022.
Alberta Government: The Guiding Framework for the Design and Development of Kindergarten to Grade 12 Curriculum, https://open.alberta.ca/publications/guiding-framework-design-development-k-12-curriculum#summary (last access: 2 December 2024), April 2024.
Alvarez, R. M., Debnath, R., and Ebanks, D.: Why don't Americans trust university researchers and why it matters for climate change, PLOS Clim., 2, e0000147, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000147, 6 September 2023.
Amato, A. and Penrose, C.: Kids to learn Alberta is “most ethical producer of oil in the world” in school, CTV News, https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/kids-to-learn-alberta-is-most-ethical-producer-of-oil-in-the-world-in-school/ (last access: 2 December 2024), 8 November 2024.
Andrée, M. and Hansson, L.: Inviting the petrochemical industry to the STEM classroom: messages about industry-society-environment in webinars, Env. Ed. Res., 30, 661–676, https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2023.2168623, 19 January 2023.
Antusch, S. and Yan, L. (Eds.): Climate change and human behaviour, Nat. Portfolio, https://www.nature.com/collections/icdbhbbibg (last access: 1 February 2024), 16 November 2022.
Arkansas Energy Rocks: Home, https://arkansasenergyrocks.com/ (last access: 30 April 2024), 2019a.
Arkansas Energy Rocks: Research and Resources, https://arkansasenergyrocks.com/students/research-resources/ (last access: 30 April 2024), 2019b.
Association for Science Education: Green Tick: bpES website, https://www.ase.org.uk/news/green-tick-bpes-website (last access: 2 July 2023, no longer available online), 21 July 2020.
Atkin, E.: The fossil fuel industry's public school takeover, Heated, https://heated.world/p/the-fossil-fuel-industrys-public (last access: 14 January 2024), 4 March 2020.
Bast, J.: Heartland Institute Replies to the National Science Teachers (sic) Association, https://heartland.org/opinion/heartland-institute-replies-to-the-national-science-teachers-association/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 24 April 2017.
Berkebile-Weinberg, M., Goldwert, D., Doell, K. C., Van Bavel, J. J., and Vlasceanu, M.: The differential impact of climate interventions along the political divide in 60 countries, Nat. Commun., 15, 3885, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48112-8, 8 May 2024.
Bhattacharya, D., Steward, K. C., and Forbes, C. T.: Empirical research on K-16 climate education: A systematic review of the literature, J. Geoscience Education, 69, 223–247, https://doi.org/10.1080/10899995.2020.1838848, 2020.
BP: BP educational service, https://www.bp.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home/community/stem-education/our-programmes-and-partnerships/bp-education-service.html (last access: 30 November 2023, no longer available online), 2023.
BP: Energising Futures, Earth's atmosphere knowledge organiser, https://energisingfutures.co.uk/resources/earths-atmosphere-knowledge-organiser/?via_collection=1832 (last access: 13 January 2024), 2024a.
BP: Energising Futures, Renewable energy resources knowledge organiser, https://energisingfutures.co.uk/resources/renewable-energy-resources-knowledge-organiser/?via_collection=1270 (last access: 13 January 2024), 2024b.
Branch, G.: The Heartbreak for Heartland Continues, National Center for Science Education, https://ncse.ngo/heartbreak-heartland-continues (last access: 14 January 2024), 7 June 2017.
Branch, G.: New state science standards in Pennsylvania, https://ncse.ngo/new-state-science-standards-pennsylvania (last access: 25 April 2024), 23 May 2022.
Branch, G.: How to support climate education in your state's schools, Yale Climate Connections, https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/06/how-to-support-climate-change-education-in-your-states-schools/ (last access: 4 June 2024), 4 June 2024.
Brulle, R. J.: Institutionalizing delay: foundation funding and the creation of U.S. climate change counter-movement organizations, Climatic Change, 122, 681–694, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-1018-7, 2014.
Brulle, R. J., Roberts, J. T., and Spencer, M. C. (Eds.): Climate Obstruction Across Europe, Oxford University Press, New York, 400 pp., ISBN 9780197762059, 2024.
Bushell, S., Buisson, G. S., Workman, M., and Colley, T.: Strategic narratives in climate change: Towards a unifying narrative to address the action gap on climate change, Energy Research & Social Science 28, 39–49, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.04.001, 2017.
Carrington, D.: COP28 president forced into defence of fossil fuel phase-out claims, Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/04/cop28-president-says-no-science-for-fossil-fuel-phase-out-claim-was-misinterpreted (last access: 14 January 2024), 4 December 2023.
Carrington, D.: World's top climate scientists expect global heating to blast past 1.5C target, Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/08/world-scientists-climate-failure-survey-global-temperature (last access: 8 May 2024), 2024a.
Carrington, D.: We asked 380 top climate scientists what they felt about the future…, Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2024/may/08/hopeless-and-broken-why-the-worlds-top-climate-scientists-are-in-despair (last access: 8 May 2024), 2024b.
CEC Staff: Energy literacy providers push for a balanced, sustainable future, Canadian Energy Centre, https://www.canadianenergycentre.ca/energy-literacy-providers-push-for-balanced-sustainable-future/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 22 August 2023.
Climate at a Glance: homepage, Heartland Institute, https://climateataglance.com/, last access: 14 January 2024.
Climate Changemakers: Action Playbook: Require Climate Education, https://www.climatechangemakers.org/playbook-climate-education (last access: 14 January 2024), 2020.
Climate Feedback: Accurate information is the foundation of a functioning democracy, https://climatefeedback.org/, last access: 12 January 2024.
Climate Town: The Brainwashing of America's Children, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pNRuafoyZ4&t=4s (last access: 14 January 2024), 12 September 2023.
CO2 Coalition: Challenging the National Science Teaching Association's Position Statement on Climate Change, https://co2coalition.org/publications/challenging-the-nsta-position-on-climate-change/ (last access: 25 April 2024), 23 March 2023.
CO2 Coalition: Once Upon a Time: A true story about the miracle molecule–carbon dioxide (Book One), https://co2learningcenterstore.com/products/once-upon-a-time-comic-book-one (last access: 14 January 2024), 2024.
Coan, T. G., Boussalis, C., Cook, J., and Nanko, M. O.: Computer-assisted classification of contrarian claims about climate change, Sci. Rep., 11, 22320, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01714-4, 2021.
Cologna, V., Kotcher, J., Mede, N. G., Besley, J., Maibach, E. W., and Oreskes, N.: Trust in climate science and climate scientists: A narrative review, PLOS Clim., 3, e0000400, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000400, 2024.
Cook, J.: Teachers' Guide to Cranky Uncle, https://crankyuncle.com/teachers-guide-to-cranky-uncle/ (last access: 23 May 2024), 27 January 2021.
Cook, J.: Cranky Uncle, Homepage, https://crankyuncle.com/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 2024a.
Cook, J.: Skeptical Science, https://skepticalscience.com/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 2024b.
Coon, B., Nolasco, D., and Walker, E.: Climate Education vs. The Climate Crisis, edited by: Wunsh, J., and Davies, S., Earth.org, https://www.earthday.org/press-release/earthday-org-releases-climate-education-vs-the-climate-crisis/ (last access: 22 May 2024), 10 April 2024.
Cruickshank, A.: Why are Oil-and-Gas Companies Developing Lesson Plans for Teachers?, The Walrus, https://thewalrus.ca/why-are-oil-and-gas-companies-developing-lesson-plans-for-teachers/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 26 August 2022.
Damico, J. S. and Baildon, M. C.: How to Confront Climate Denial, Teachers College Press, New York, 176 pp., ISBN 9780807767214, 2022.
DeSmog: Climate Disinformation Database, https://www.desmog.com/climate-disinformation-database/, last access: 12 January 2024a.
DeSmog: Prager U, https://www.desmog.com/prageru/, last access: 14 January 2024c.
Dingell, D. (Sponsor): H.R. 2310 – Climate Change Education Act, Congress.Gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2310/actions (last access: 14 January 2024), 2 April 2021.
Dingell, D. (Sponsor): H.R. 7946 – Climate Change Education Act, Congress.Gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7946 (last access: 25 April 2024), 11 April 2024.
Discovery Education: Effects of Petroleum on Our World, https://stemcareerscoalition.discoveryeducation.com/pages/19c1abab-d96c-4ac2-89fb-4970c06077ad (last access: 14 January 2024), 2022.
Discovery Education: Our Partners, https://stemcareerscoalition.discoveryeducation.com/pages/0e4b6155-0cfa-49e7-95bb-5650e1c33840 (last access: 14 January 2024), 2024a.
Discovery Education: News, Press Releases, Ahead of Schedule: STEM Careers Coalition Reaches Over 10.7 Million Students, https://www.discoveryeducation.com/details/ahead-of-schedule-stem-careers-co alition-reaches-over-10-7-million-students/ (last access: 24 March 2025), 2024b.
Discovery Education: Staying Informed, https://stemcareerscoalition.discoveryeducation.com/pages/2c7f5029-bf08-4f89-b247-995eda5a5152 (last access: 14 January 2024), 2024c.
Duineveld, M., Dix, G., Plets, G., and Hüzeir, V.: Climate Obstruction in the Netherlands, in: Climate Obstruction Across Europe, edited by: Brulle, R. J., Roberts, J. T., and Spencer, M. C., Oxford University Press, New York, 162–185, ISBN 9780197762059, 2024.
Dunlap, R. E. and McCright, A. M.: Challenging Climate Change, the Denial Countermovement, in: Climate Change and Society: Sociological Perspectives, edited by: Dunlap, R. E. and Brulle, R. J., Oxford University Press, New York, 300–332, ISBN 978-0-19-935610-2, 2015.
Eaton, E. M. and Day, N. A.: Petro-pedagogy: fossil fuel interests and the obstruction of climate justice in public education, Env. Ed. Res., 26, 457–473, https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2019.1650164, 2019.
Eichhorn, J., Molthof, L., and Nicke, S.: From Climate Change Awareness to Climate Crisis Action, Open Society Foundations, https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/publications/from-climate-change-awareness-to-climate-crisis-action#publications_download (last access: 12 January 2024), November 2020.
Ekberg, K., Forchtner, B., Hultman, M., and Jylhä, K. M.: Climate Obstruction: How Denial, Delay and Inaction are Heating the Planet, Routledge, Abingdon, UK, 156 pp., ISBN 9781032019475, 2023.
Energy Creates: Create & Enter To Win 1 in 5 Full Tuition, https://www.energycreates.com/#learn-more (last access: 22 April 2024), 2024a.
Energy Creates: Global Warning, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qdhNURKpGs (last access: 24 June 2024), 2024b.
Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago: Americans' Views on Climate Change and Policy in 10 Charts, https://epic.uchicago.edu/insights/americans-views-on-climate-change-and-policy-in-10-charts/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 10 April 2023.
Energy4me: What is Energy?, https://energy4me.org/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 2024a.
Energy4me: Sustainability, https://energy4me.org/learn-about-energy/sustainability/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 2024b.
Energy4me: Energy Transition, https://energy4me.org/learn-about-energy/sustainability/energy-transition/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 2024c.
Energy4me: Environmental Protection, https://energy4me.org/learn-about-energy/sustainability/environmental-protection/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 2024d.
EverBright Media: America's Favorite Entertaining Educational Subscriptions for Kids, https://everbrightmedia.com/, last access: 14 January 2024a.
EverBright Media: The Kids Guide, https://thekidsguide.com/our-guides/, last access: 14 January 2024b (no longer available online).
Field, E., Schwartzberg, P., and Berger, P.: Canada, Climate Change and Education: Opportunities for Public and Formal Education (Formal Report for Learning for a Sustainable Future), North York, Canada: York University Printing Services; https://lsf-lst.ca/media/National_Report/National_Climate_Change_Education_FINAL.pdf (last access: 14 January 2024), 2019.
Field, E., Spiropoulos, G., Nguyen, A. T., and Grewal, R. K.: Climate Change Education within Canada's Regional Curricula: A Systematic Review of Gaps and Opportunities, Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, 202, 155–184, https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjeap/article/view/74980 (last access: 14 January 2024), 2023.
Fisher, A.: Fox News Runs Ads for Huckabee's climate-denial book targeted at children, Media Matters for America, https://www.mediamatters.org/climate-deniers/fox-news-runs-ads-mike-huckabees-climate-denial-book-targeted-children (last access: 14 January 2024), 9 June 2023.
FortisBC: Learning resources for students, Energy Champions, https://www.fortisbc.com/in-your-community/learning-resources-for-students#tab-2 (last access: 11 May 2024), 2024.
Fossielvrij Onderwijs: Shell retaliated over misleading advertising for children, https://fossielvrijonderwijs.nl/2019/10/30/shell-teruggefloten-om-misleidende-reclame-generation-discover/ (last access: 25 April 2024), 30 October 2019a.
Fossielvruij Onderwijs: Shell in “honorable” 2nd place among climate deniers, https://fossielvrijonderwijs.nl/2019/11/01/shell-op-2e-plaats-klimaatontkenners/ (last access: 25 April 2024), 1 November 2019b.
Fossielvruij Onderwijs: Examples of fossil teaching materials, https://fossielvrijonderwijs.nl/ontdek-zelf-greenwashing/, last access: 25 April 2024.
Gamage, M.: Should Fossil Fuel Companies Get to Teach Kids about Climate Change?, The Tyee, https://thetyee.ca/News/2022/03/24/Should-Fossil-Fuel-Companies-Teach-Kids-About-Climate-Change/ (last access: 30 January 2024), 24 March 2022.
Gandolfi, H.: State education, petro-pedagogy and Environmental Justice, Knowledge, Power, and Politics, University of Cambridge, https://cpgj.wordpress.com/2021/06/02/state-education-petro-pedagogy-and-environmental-justice/ (last access: 29 May 2024), 2 June 2021.
Gayle, D.: Oil industry veteran to lead next round of Cop climate change summit, Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/05/cop29-will-be-led-by-mukhtar-babayev-azerbaijan-ecology-minister-who-is-oil-industry-veteran (last access: 12 January 2024), 5 January 2024.
Gelbspan, R.: The Heat is On: The Warming of the World's Climate Sparks a Blaze of Denial, Harper's Magazine, https://harpers.org/archive/1995/12/the-heat-is-on/ (last access: 18 March 2025), December 1995.
Gelbspan, R.: The Heat is On: The Climate Crisis, The Cover Up, The Prescription, Perseus Books, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 278 pp., ISBN 0738200255, 1997.
Gibbons, J.: How Big Ag is Influencing What Irish Students Learn About Climate Change, DeSmog, https://www.desmog.com/2020/12/15/big-ag-influencing-irish-students-climate-change/ (last access: 31 May 2024), 15 December 2020.
Gopal, K.: Mike Huckabee's “Kids Guide to the Truth About Climate Change” Shows the Changing Landscape of Climate Denial,” Inside Climate News, https://insideclimatenews.org/news/31072023/huckabees-kids-guide-to-climate/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 31 July 2023.
Gopal, K.: A Fossil Fuel Miseducation, The Lever, https://www.levernews.com/a-fossil-fuel-miseducation/ (last access: 26 April 2024), 23 January 2024.
Government Accountability Project: `The Denial Machine' Airs on CBC-TV, https://whistleblower.org/politicization-of-climate-science/global-warming-denial-machine/the-denial-machine-airs-on-cbc-tv/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 17 November 2006.
Hayhoe, K.: Global Weirding with Katharine Hayhoe, Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/c/GlobalWeirdingwithKatharineHayhoe/videos, last access: 12 January 2024.
Heartland Institute: Heartland Institute Ships Climate at a Glance Book to Thousands of Teachers Across America, https://heartland.org/opinion/heartland-institute-ships-climate-at-a-glance-book-to-thousands-of-teachers-across-america/ (last access: 1 February 2024), 2 February 2023.
Heartland Institute: About Us, What We Do, https://heartland.org/about-us/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 2024a.
Heartland Institute: Why Scientists Disagree about Global Warming, Heartland Institute, https://heartland.org/opinion/why-scientists-disagree-about-global-warming/ (last access: 11 May 2024), 2024b.
Hodgkins, A.: Manufacturing (il)literacy in Alberta's classrooms: The case of an oil-dependent state, J. Critical Education Policy Studies, 8, 262–298, 2010.
Hornsey, M. J., Harris, E. A., and Fielding, K. S.: Relationships among conspiratorial beliefs, conservatism and climate scepticism across nations, Nat. Clim. Change, 8, 614–620, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0157-2, 2018.
Hornsey, M. J. and Lewandowsky, S.: A toolkit for understanding and addressing climate scepticism, Nat. Hum. Behav., 6, 1454–1464, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-022-01463-y, 2022.
Idso, C. D., Carter, R. M., and Singer, S. F.: Why Scientists Disagree about Global Warming, Heartland Institute, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 106 pp., ISBN 978-1934791578, 2015.
Illinois Petroleum Resources Board: IPRB Mission/History, https://iprb.org/about-us/iprb-mission-history/, last access: 26 April 2024a.
Illinois Petroleum Resources Board: Classroom Curriculum, https://iprb.org/education/classroom-curriculum/, last access: 26 April 2024b.
Inside Education: Stewardship, Energy, Climate & You, Teacher's Guide, Inside Education Society of Alberta, https://www.insideeducation.ca/uploads/source/learning/stewardship-energy-climate-and-you/StewardshipTG_2018.pdf (last access: 6 July 2023), 2018.
Inside Education: About Us, https://www.insideeducation.ca/about-us/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 2024.
IPCC: IPCC Factsheet: How does the IPCC approve reports?, https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2021/07/AR6_FS_approve.pdf (last access: 1 February 2024), July 2021.
IPCC: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited by: Pörtner, H.-O., Roberts, D. C., Tignor, M., Poloczanska, E. S., Mintenbeck, K., Alegría, A., Craig, M., Langsdorf, S., Löschke, S., Möller, V., Okem, A., and Rama B., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA, 3056 pp., https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009325844, 2022a.
IPCC: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited by: Shukla, P. R., Skea, J., Slade, R., Al Khourdajie, A., van Diemen, R., McCollum, D., Pathak, M., Some, S., Vyas, P., Fradera, R., Belkacemi, M., Hasija, A., Lisboa, G., Luz, S., and Malley, J., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA., 2029 pp., https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157926, 2022b.
IPCC: Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited by: Core Writing Team, Lee, H. and Romero, J., IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 184 pp., https://doi.org/10.59327/IPCC/AR6-9789291691647, 2023.
Jacquot, J.: Debunking Joanne Nova's “The Skeptics Handbook” part 3: The Climate Models Have it Right, DeSmog, https://www.desmog.com/2008/12/28/debunking-joanne-nova-climate-skeptics-handbook-part-3-climate-models-have-it-right/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 28 December 2008.
Jenny, M. A. and Betsch, C.: Large-scale behavioural data are key to climate policy, Nat. Hum. Behav., 6, 1444–1447, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-022-01479-4, 2022.
Joselow, M.: Climate deniers ejected from teachers conference for pro-carbon comic, Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/04/11/co2-coalition-climate-denial/ (last access: 26 April 2024), 11 April 2023.
Kahan, D. M.: Climate-Science Communication and the “Measurement Problem”, Polit. Psychol., 36, 1–43, https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12244, 20 February 2015.
Kansas Strong: Let's Have Some Real Conversations about the Impact of Oil and Natural Gas in Kansas, https://kansasstrong.com/real-conversations/ (last access: 30 April 2024), 2024a.
Kansas Strong: Workshops, https://kansasstrong.com/students/workshops/ (last access: 30 April 2024), 2024b.
Kansas Strong: Curriculum & Tools, https://kansasstrong.com/students/curriculum-tools/ (last access: 30 April 2024), 2024c.
Kansas Strong: Get the Facts About Kansas Oil & Gas, https://kansasstrong.com/get-the-facts/ (last access: 30 April 2024), 2024d.
Kutney, G.: The Oil Apologists, Canada's National Observer, https://www.nationalobserver.com/2022/04/29/opinion/oil-apologists (last access: 13 January 2024), 29 April 2022.
Kutney, G.: Climate Denial in American Politics: #ClimateBrawl, Routledge, Abingdon, UK, 288 pp., ISBN 9781032592794, 2024.
Lange, J.: Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Want Climate Change Taught in Schools, Heatmap, https://heatmap.news/climate/education-climate-trust-teachers-poll (last access: 25 April 2024), 15 December 2023.
Lee, J. and Banerjee, N.: Science Teachers Respond to Climate Materials Sent by Heartland Institute, Inside Climate News, https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22122017/science-teachers-heartland-institute-anti-climate-booklet-survey/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 22 December 2017.
Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., Rosenthal, S., Kotcher, J., Ballew, M., Marlon, J., Carman, J., Verner, M., Lee, S., Myers, T., and Goldberg, M.: Global Warming's Six Americas, December 2022, Yale University and George Mason University, New Haven, CT, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/global-warmings-six-americas-december-2022/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 14 March 2023a.
Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., Rosenthal, S., Kotcher, J., Carman, J., Lee, S., Verner, M., Ballew, M., Ansah, P., Badullovich, N., Myers, T., Goldberg, M., and Marlon, J.: Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, December 2022, Yale University and George Mason University, New Haven, CT, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/politics-global-warming-december-2022/toc/11/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 31 January 2023b.
Leiserowitz, A., Verner, M., Goddard, E., Wood, E., Carman, J., Ordaz Reynoso, N., Thulin, E., Rosenthal, S., Marlon, J., and Buttermore, N.: International Public Opinion on Climate Change, 2023, New Haven, CT: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and Data for Good at Meta, https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/international-public-opinion-on-climate-change-2023/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 14 November 2023c.
Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., Rosenthal, S., Kotcher, J., Goddard, M., Carman, J., Verner, M., Ballew, M., Marlon, J., Lee, S., Myers, T., Goldberg, M., Badullovich, N., and Their, K.: Global Warming's Six Americas, Fall 2023, Yale University and George Mason University, New Haven, CT, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/global-warmings-six-americas-fall-2023/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 14 December 2023d.
Lewandowsky, S.: Climate Change Disinformation and How to Combat it, Annu. Rev. Publ. Health, 42, 1–21, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-090419-102409, 2021.
Lewandowsky, S., Cook, J., Ecker, U. K. H., Albarracín, D., Amazeen, M. A., Kendeou, P., Lombardi, D., Newman, E. J., Pennycook, G., Porter, E., Rand, D. G., Rapp, D. N., Reifler, J., Roozenbeek, J., Schmid, P., Seifert, C. M., Sinatra, G. M., Swire-Thompson, B., van der Linden, S., Vraga, E. K., Wood, T. J., and Zaragoza, M. S.: The Debunking Handbook 2020, 19 pp., https://doi.org/10.17910/b7.1182, 2020.
Liu, D. W. C.: Science Denial and the Science Classroom, CBE – Life Sciences Education, 11, 113–199, https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.12-03-0029, 2012.
Markey, E. (Sponsor): S.966 – Climate Change Education Act, Congress.Gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/966/actions (last access: 14 January 2024), 25 March 2021.
Markey, E. (Sponsor): S.4117 – Climate Change Education Act, Congress.Gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4117 (last access: 25 April 2024), 11 April 2024.
McCright, A. M.: Anti-Reflexivity and climate change skepticism in the US general public, Hum. Ecol. Rev., 22, 77–107, https://doi.org/10.22459/HER.22.02.2016.04, 2016.
McCright, A. M. and Dunlap, R. E.: Challenging Global Warming as a Social Problem: An Analysis of the Conservative Movement's Counter Claims, Soc. Probl., 47, 499–522, https://doi.org/10.1525/sp.2000.47.4.03x0305s, 2000.
McCright, A. M. and Dunlap, R. E.: Anti-reflexivity, Theor. Cult. Soc., 27, 100–133, https://doi.org/10.1177/0263276409356001, 2010.
McCright, A. M. and Dunlap, R. E.: The Politicization of Climate Change and Polarization in the American Public's Views of Global Warning, 2001–2010, Sociol. Quart., 52, 155–194, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-8525.2011.01198.x, 2011.
McKenna, P.: Educators Decry Conservatives Group's Climate “Propaganda” Sent to Schoolteachers, Inside Climate News, https://insideclimatenews.org/news/10042017/heartland-institute-climate-change-denial-science-education/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 10 April 2017.
McKenna, P.: National Teachers Group Confronts Climate Denial: Keep the Politics Out of Science Class, Inside Climate News, https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13092018/science-teachers-climate-change-denial-nsta-national-association-position-statement-state-standards-heartland/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 13 September 2018.
McKie, R. E.: Climate change counter movement organisations: an international deviant network?, in: Handbook of Anti-Environmentalism, edited by: Tindall, D., Stoddart, M. C. J. and Dunlap, R. E., Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Cheltenham, UK, 173–191, ISBN 978 1 83910 021 5, 2022.
McKie, R. E.: The Climate Change Counter Movement, Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland, 176 pp., ISBN 9783031335921, 2023.
MECCE and NAAEE: Mapping the Landscape of K-12 Climate Change Education Policy in the United States, https://mecce.ca/publications/mapping-k12-climate-change-education-policy-in-the-us/ (last access: 14 January 2024), May 2022.
Mendy, L., Karlsson, M., and Lindvall, D.: Counteracting climate denial: A systematic review, Public Underst. Sci., 33, 504–520, https://doi.org/10.1177/09636625231223425, 2024.
Monroe, M. C., Plate, R. R., Oxarart, A., Bowers, A., and Chaves, W. A.: Identifying effective climate change education strategies: a systematic review of the research, Environ. Educ. Res., 25, 791–812, https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2017.1360842, 2019.
Nartova-Bochaver, S. K., Donat, M., Ucar, G. K.., Korneev, A. A., Heidmets, M. E., Kamble, S., Khachatryan, N., Kryazh, I., V., Larionow, P., Rodríguez-González, D., Serobyan, A., Zhou, C., and Clayton, S.: The role of environmental identity and individualism/collectivism in predicting climate change denial: Evidence from nine countries, J. Environ. Psychol., 84, 101899, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101899, 2022.
National Center for Science Education: The Pillars of Climate Change Denial, https://ncse.ngo/pillars-climate-change-denial (last access: 14 January 2024), 15 January 2016.
National Center for Science Education and Texas Freedom Network: Making the Grade? How State School Science Standards Address Climate Change, https://climategrades.org/ (last access: 14 January 2024), October 2020.
Netflix: Don't Look Up, https://www.netflix.com/title/81252357 (last access: 14 January 2024), 2021.
Newsweek Staff: Global Warming Deniers Well Funded, Newsweek, https://www.newsweek.com/global-warming-deniers-well-funded-machine-99295 (last access: 18 March 2025), 12 August 2007.
Next Generation Science Standards: Topic Arrangements of the NGSS, https://www.nextgenscience.org/overview-topics (last access: 14 January 2024), September 2017.
Noor, D. and Westervelt, A.: The ABCs of Big Oil, Drilled, https://drilled.media/investigations/the-abcs-of-big-oil (last access: 1 May 2024), 2023.
Ohio Natural Energy Institute: Who We Are, https://www.ohionaturalenergy.org/who-we-are (last access: 14 January 2024), 2023a.
Ohio Natural Energy Institute: Educational Resources for Teachers, https://www.ohionaturalenergy.org/teachers (last access: 14 January 2024), 2023b.
Oklahoma Energy Resources Board: HomeRoom, digital books, https://oerbhomeroom.com/digital-books/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 2022a.
Oklahoma Energy Resources Board: HomeRoom, Our Curriculum, Little Bits, https://oerbhomeroom.com/little-bits/?hilite=little+bits/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 2022b.
Oklahoma Energy Resources Board: HomeRoom, Our Curriculum, Fossils to Fuel 2, https://oerbhomeroom.com/fossils-to-fuel-2/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 2022c.
Oreskes, N.: The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change, Science, 306, 1686, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1103618, 2004.
Oreskes, N. and Conway, E. M.: Merchants of Doubt, Bloomsbury Press, New York, 368 pp., ISBN 978-1596916104, 2010.
Pasquini, G. and Kennedy, B.: Americans continue to have doubts about climate scientists' understanding of climate change, Pew Research Center, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/10/25/americans-continue-to-have-doubts-about-climate-scientists-understanding-of-climate-change/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 25 October 2023.
Pasquini, G., Spencer, A., Tyson, A., and Funk, C.: Why Some Americans Do Not See Urgency on Climate Change, Pew Research Center, https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2023/08/09/why-some-americans-do-not-see-urgency-on-climate-change/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 9 August 2023.
Peters, G. P. and Meinshausen, M.: We are Not on Track: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Are Higher Than Ever!, Front. Youth Minds, 12, 1343809, https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2024.1343809, 18 June 2024.
Plutzer, E., Hannah, A. L., Rosenau, J., McCaffrey, M. S., Berbeco, M., Reid, A. H.: Mixed Messages: How Climate is Taught in America's Schools, National Center for Science Education, https://ncse.ngo/files/MixedMessages.pdf (last access: 14 January 2024), 2016a.
Plutzer, E., McCaffrey, M., Hannah, A. L., Rosenau, J., Berbeco, M., and Reid, A. H.: Climate Confusion Among U.S. Teachers, Science, 351, 664–665, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aab3907, 2016b.
PragerU; PragerU Kids in Your School!, https://www.prageru.com/prageru-in-your-school (last access: 14 January 2024), 2024a.
PragerU: Around the World, Ania's Energy Crisis, https://www.prageru.com/magazine/anias-energy-crisis (last access: 14 January 2024), 2024b.
PragerU: Tell America You Want PragerU in Schools!, https://www.prageru.com/prageru-in-schools-petition (last access: 14 January 2024), 2024c.
Readfearn, G.: Only 60 % of Australians accept “climate disruption” is human-caused, global poll finds, Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/24/climate-change-survey-human-caused-poll-australia (last access: 23 June 2024, 23 June 2024.
Reclame Fossielvrij: Shell prepared billions in subsidies for CO2 storage in teaching materials, https://verbiedfossielereclame.nl/shell-kookte-miljardensteun-co2-opslag-voor-in-lesmateriaal/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 10 May 2021.
Reclame Fossielvrij: no title, Linkedin, https://www.linkedin.com/posts/reclame-fossielvrij_shell-nam-tata-activity-7154146136843304960-msiM/?originalSubdomain=nl (last access: 21 June 2024), January 2024.
Reid, A. and Branch, G.: Cartoons, jokes, and lies: Kids at risk from climate change denial, National Center for Science Education, https://ncse.ngo/cartoons-jokes-and-lies-kids-risk-climate-change-denial (last access: 14 January 2024), 28 September 2023.
Rousell, D. and Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, A.: A systematic review of climate change education: giving children and young people a “voice” and a “hand” in redressing climate change, Child. Geogr., 18, 191–208, https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2019.1614532, 2020.
Safety in Schools Foundation: Energy Literacy Providers Push for Balanced, Sustainable Future, https://sisfoundation.ca/energy-literacy-providers-push-for-balanced-sustainable-future/ (last access: 2 December 2024), 16 October 2023a.
Safety in Schools Foundation: The SiS Foundation Launches the Energy Career Literacy Program, https://sisfoundation.ca/the-sis-foundation-launches-the-energy-career-literacy-program/ (last access: 2 December 2024), 7 December 2023b.
Safety in Schools Foundation: About, Our Story, https://sisfoundation.ca/our-story/ (last access: 2 December 2024), 2024.
Scientix: 2020–2022 Scientix Webinars, https://www.scientix.eu/live/scientix-webinars, last access: 13 January 2024.
SEEDS Connections: About, History, https://seedsconnections.org/history (last access: 14 January 2024), 2019a.
SEEDS Connections: Teaching Activities for Climate Change, https://seedsconnections.org/teaching-activities-climate-change (last access: 14 January 2024), 2019b.
Shell: NXPlorers – Shell's Global STEM Programme, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIl3478zsQM (last access: 13 January 2024), 2018.
Shell: STEM Education, https://www.shell.com/sustainability/people/communities/delivering-benefits/stem-education.html, last access: 24 June 2024.
Shell NXplorers: Senior, Energy Transition, https://nxplorers.com/en/nexus/knowledge-expanders/energy-transition (last access: 7 May 2024), 2018.
Skeptical Science: The Consensus Gap, https://skepticalscience.com/graphics.php?g=78, last access: 12 January 2024.
Sleegers, F.: The dirty truth about Shell's children's marketing, Future Beyond Shell.org, 2024.
Stoetzer, L. S. and Zimmermann, F. A.: A representative survey experiment of motivated climate change denial, Nat. Clim. Change, 14, 198–204, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01910-2, 2024.
Stoll-Kleemann, S. and O'Riordan, T.: Revisiting the Psychology of Denial Concerning Low-Carbon Behaviors: From Moral Disengagement to Generating Social Change, Sustainability, 12, 935, https://doi.org/10.3390/su12030935, 2020.
Stoll-Kleemann, S., O'Riordan, T., and Jaeger, C. C.: The psychology of denial concerning climate mitigation measures: evidence from Swiss focus groups, Global Environ. Chang., 11, 107–117, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-3780(00)00061-3, 2001.
Strauss, V.: What the latest assaults on science education look like, Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/04/22/what-the-latest-assaults-on-science-education-look-like/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 22 April 2017.
Switch Energy Alliance: Inspiring an Energy Educated Future, https://switchon.org/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 2024a.
Switch Energy Alliance: Switch Classroom, https://classroom.switchon.org/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 2024b.
Tannock, S.: The oil industry in our schools: from Petro Pete to science capital in the age of climate crisis, Environ. Educ. Res., 26, 474–490, https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2020.1724891, 2020.
Taylor, J.: School Board Prez Censors Science, Heartland Institute, https://heartland.org/opinion/school-board-prez-censors-science/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 1 August 2009.
Ten Peaks: Introducing the 10Peaks Innovation Xchange, https://www.10peaks.ca/blog/introducing-10peaks-innovation-xchange (last access: 30 January 2024), 3 June 2020.
Ten Peaks: Sponsors, https://www.10peaks.ca/sponsors, last access: 30 January 2024.
Tinker, S.: Climate and energy solutions require setting politics aside, The Hill, https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/438637-climate-and-energy-solutions-require-setting-politics-aside/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 12 April 2019a.
Tinker, S.: Carbon Pricing is Not a Fix for Climate Change, Sci. Amer., https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/carbon-pricing-is-not-a-fix-for-climate-change/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 16 August 2019b.
Tinker, S.: World's road out of poverty is paved by energy – and plenty of it, The Hill, https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/3939151-worlds-road-out-of-poverty-is-paved-by-energy-and-plenty-of-it/ (last access: 13 January 2024), 7 April 2023.
Tyson, A. and Kennedy, B.: 2. What groups can make the biggest impact on climate change?, Pew Research Center, https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2023/10/25/what-groups-can-make-the-biggest-impact-on-climate-change/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 25 October 2023.
Tyson, A., Funk, C., and Kennedy, B.: What the data says about Americans' views of climate change, Pew Research Center, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/08/09/what-the-data-says-about-americans-views-of-climate-change/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 9 August 2023.
UNESCO: Getting every school climate-ready: how countries are integrating climate change issues in education, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris France, 13 pp., https://doi.org/10.54675/NBHC8523, 2021.
UNESCO: Youth demands for quality climate change education, https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000383615 (last access: 30 January 2024), 2022a.
UNESCO: Peer, Canada, https://education-profiles.org/europe-and-northern-america/canada/~climate-change-communication-and-education (last access: 14 January 2024), 30 November 2022b.
UNESCO: Peer, United States of America, https://education-profiles.org/europe-and-northern-america/united-states-of-america/~climate-change-communication-and-education (last access: 14 January 2024), 17 July 2023.
UNESCO: UNESCO at COP28: Making education the long-term solution to the climate crisis, https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-cop28-making-education-long-term-solution-climate-crisis (last access: 11 May 2024), 15 March 2024.
UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations, https://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/background_publications_htmlpdf/application/pdf/conveng.pdf (last access: 12 January 2024), 1992.
UNFCCC: Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations, https://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.pdf (last access: 12 January 2024), 1998.
UNFCCC: Paris Agreement, United Nations, https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/english_paris_agreement.pdf (last access: 12 January 2024), 2015.
UNFCCC: Climate Change Education, https://unfccc.int/blog/climate-change-education (last access: 12 January 2024), 25 April 2022.
UNFCCC: Boosting Climate Education through Networking and Training, https://unfccc.int/news/boosting-climate-education-through-networking-and-training (last access: 12 January 2024), 23 January 2023.
Verner, M., Marlon, J., Carman, J., Rosenthal, S., Ballew, M., Leiserowitz, A., Buttermore, N., and Mulcahy, K.: Global Warming's Six Audiences: A cross-national comparison in nearly 200 countries and territories worldwide, Yale University, New Haven, CT: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/global-warmings-six-audiences-a-cross-national-comparison/ (last access: 12 January 2024), 1 August 2023.
Vowles, K.: Fuelling Denial, Thesis for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Chalmers University of Technology, https://research.chalmers.se/en/publication/541039 (last access: 14 May 2024), 2024.
Waldman, S.: Texas Weakens Climate Science Education Guidelines, Sc. Am., E&E News, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/texas-weakens-climate-science-education-guidelines/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 16 March 2023a.
Waldman, S.: DeSantis's Florida Approves Climate-Denial Videos in Schools, Sc. Am., E&E News, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/desantiss-florida-approves-climate-denial-videos-in-schools/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 7 August 2023b.
Waldman, S.: Climate Science is Under Attack in Classrooms, Sc, Am., E&E News, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-science-is-under-attack-in-classrooms/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 12 September 2023c.
Watts, A. and Taylor, J.: Climate at a Glance, for Teachers and Students, Heartland Institute, Arlington Heights, edited by: Burnett, H. S., Illinois, 81 pp., ISBN 978-1934791455, 2022.
Waxman, O. B.: What It Means That Florida Will Allow Conservative PragerU Content in Schools, Time, https://time.com/6301287/florida-prageru-education-schools/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 3 August 2023.
Wertz, J.: Reading, Writing and Fracking? What the Oil Industry Teaches Oklahoma Students, NPR, https://www.npr.org/2017/07/11/535653913/heres-what-the-oil-industry-is-teaching-oklahomas-students (last access: 14 January 2024), 11 July 2017.
Westervelt, A.: Get 'Em While They're Young, Drilled, https://drilled.media/news/school-funding-101 (last access: 1 May 2024), 22 August 2023.
Whitehead, S: Benefits of Fossil Fuels to Humanity Have Far Outweighed Negatives, IPRB, https://iprb.org/blog/2022/benefits-of-fossil-fuels-to-humanity-have-far-outweighed-negatives/ (last access: 26 April 2024), 15 December 2022.
Whitehouse, S.: Climate Change, Congressional Record, S6169–S6170, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2017-09-27/pdf/CREC-2017-09-27-pt1-PgS6159-7.pdf (last access: 14 January 2024), 27 September 2017.
Winkel, R.: API Celebrates STEM Day and Third Anniversary of STEM Careers Coalition, American Petroleum Institute, https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/blog/2022/11/14/api-celebrates-stem-day-third-anniversary-of-stem-careers-coalition (last access: 14 January 2024), 15 November 2022.
Wong-Parodi, G. and Feygina, I.: Understanding and countering the motivated roots of climate change denial, Curr. Opin. Env. Sust., 42, 60–64, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2019.11.008, 2020.
Worth, K.: Miseducation, How Climate Change is Taught in America, Columbia Global Reports, New York, 184 pp., ISBN 1735913642, 2021a.
Worth, K.: How the Oil and Gas Industry has Broken Climate Educations, Slate, https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/11/oil-gas-companies-climate-education.html (last access: 30 April 2024), 16 November 2021b.
Wullenkord, M. C. and Reese, G.: Avoidance, rationalization, and denial: Defensive self-protection in the face of climate change negatively predicts pro-environmental behavior, J. Environ. Psychol., 77, 101683, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101683, 2021.
Youth4Climate: Manifesto, https://community.youth4climate.info/topic/youth4climate-manifesto (last access: 30 January 2024), 8 August 2022.
Zhao, J. and Luo, Y.: A framework to address cognitive biases of climate change, Neuron, 109, 3548–3551, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2021.08.029, November 2021.
Zou, J. J.: Oil's Pipeline to America's Schools, The Center for Public Integrity, https://apps.publicintegrity.org/oil-education/ (last access: 14 January 2024), 15 June 2017.
Editorial statement
This review is topical and of potential interest to a broad audience
Short summary
Climate denial in the classroom is the focus of this review, which provides a summary of the climate-denial organizations that are the leading offenders in manipulating climate education in schools.
Climate denial in the classroom is the focus of this review, which provides a summary of the...
Altmetrics
Final-revised paper
Preprint