`Liars for Hire, ' Ideologues, Derail U.S. Clean Energy Action: an Interview

“The fact that we’ve gotten to this level of polarization on an issue that’s so important to solve is tragic,” says Eric Pooley, author of “The Climate War.”

He documents the battle between climate change deniers and environmental activists trying to avert disaster by creating a new, sustainable energy model.

Formerly with Fortune and Time before joining Bloomberg Businessweek, Pooley spent three years getting to know the major players, including former Vice President Al Gore, Duke Energy Corp. CEO Jim Rogers and Environmental Defense Fund chief Fred Krupp. The result is a chilling description of the toxic political infighting that recently derailed the climate bill in Congress.

Lundborg: Who still disputes the reality of climate change?

Pooley: I use “professional deniers” to refer to those who are paid public relations people whose job it is to sow doubt and confusion, sometimes called “liars for hire.”

I use “skeptic” to refer to those exposed to that disinformation and confused about what the reality is.

No Problem

Lundborg: What caused the derailment of rational discussion about climate?

Pooley: It became polarized because the people who say they believe it’s not happening teamed up with people who oppose all forms of taxation and regulation, and so you have a block of ideologically driven people trying to prevent any kind of climate action.

Their thinking moves from effect to cause: They hate the solutions, so they decided there’s no problem.

Lundborg: What’s their most effective tool?

Pooley: When you go inside the political strategy sessions at the deniers’ convention you see what the MO is: Cap and trade is a tax that’s going to destroy your economy.

College for your children, that’s out the window, no more violin lessons for your little daughter. It’s very much fear -- they’re going to take your jobs, it’s an eco-terrorist plot to control the energy industry, Al Gore is behind it.

It’s About Money

Lundborg: What’s...