Say, I wonder how they’re going to do this? If Big Tech doesn’t voluntarily do this, then what? Unsurprisingly, the screed doesn’t say. Don’t want to spook people, right?
Society Can’t Slow Climate Change Without Reining in Big Tech, New Report Warns
Any effort to curb global greenhouse gas emissions and stave off catastrophic warming is doomed to fail unless far more is done to address the “foundational” role Big Tech companies now play in exacerbating the climate crisis. That’s the conclusion of a new report released last week by the international environmental nonprofit Global Action Plan.
From amplifying conspiracy theories and misinformation to their increasingly massive energy footprint, the world’s biggest tech companies aren’t only making global warming worse, the report said, but pose “a systemic digital roadblock to effective climate action” by driving unsustainable consumerism, increasing political division and pushing society further away from democracy.
It’s certainly not the first time Big Tech has been thrust into the spotlight over its climate impacts. Just five companies—Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple and Meta—use as much electricity as the entire country of New Zealand, according to reporting from the Financial Times. And research shows that climate disinformation continues to flourish on the biggest social media platforms, including Twitter and TikTok, which experts say makes finding global consensus on climate policy a nearly impossible task.
In fact, experts warned that a blitz of disinformation during the COP27 global climate talks last month undermined the summit’s progress. And many climate activists were outraged after the U.N. conference ended without any official commitments to phase out, or even phase down, fossil fuels—something experts say must begin immediately to fulfill the Paris Agreement targets.
If you don’t like the arguments people are putting forward, then put forth better ones that support your assertion. Shutting down opposition just causes people to wonder why, and research it more. Of course, it’s tough to defend your position when the majority of people in the Climate Cult are utter hypocrites. Will these Warmists enlist the government to force tech companies to only allow one point of view? That sounds rather Fascistic, eh?
Further, a big part of the massive footprint is people streaming shows, movies, and videos. You can bet the youngsters will utterly refuse to cut their streaming down: will the hardcore cultists attempt to get government to limit streaming? How about reducing ads, interfering with economies?
“If Big Tech’s business model entirely relies on continued advertising growth, how can we collectively challenge over-consumption?” Hayes said. “And if that ad growth is delivered by an algorithmic design that systemically promotes divisive, conspiratorial, hateful content, how can we as a society possibly hope to unite to confront the climate crisis?”
Who stops the companies from advertising? Overall, though, the Cultists are Very Upset that people with Wrongthink are allowed to have their say. They just do not cotton to that, and want it stopped. That is their primary message. Their primary concern. Everything else is secondary.
“Since Musk’s takeover I have ramped down my own use of Twitter,” climate scientist Twila Moon told The Guardian. “Folks noticing a rise in climate denialism and disinformation is particularly worrying and I am concerned that it could slow climate action in ways that are devastating to economies, communities and health.”
So, make better arguments. I’m not familiar with her, so, I perused her Twitter feed, and, not seeing much of any arguments. And lots of fossil fueled travel. Cultists are authoritarians at heart.
Read: Climate Cult Wants To Reign In Big Tech To Help Stop Climate Doom »