The Center for American Progress (CAP) has released a report indicating that 123 members of the 118th Congress deny the existence of human-caused climate change. This revelation persists despite substantial scientific evidence and increasing human and financial costs associated with extreme weather events.
The report is part of CAP's ongoing analysis, with previous comprehensive reviews published in 2021. The latest findings highlight rhetorical shifts among congressional members, moving from outright denial to more nuanced forms of obstruction. Such tactics potentially delay necessary actions to address the climate crisis and maintain the fossil fuel industry's influence over U.S. environmental and energy policies.
Examples of these obstructive tactics include shifting responsibility for climate action to other countries, portraying climate activism as alarmism, or disseminating misinformation.
Key findings from the report include:
- 123 members in the 118th Congress are identified as climate deniers.
- These individuals have received a combined total of $52 million in career contributions from the fossil fuel industry.
- Among them, 90 also denied the results of the 2020 election.
- Climate deniers make up 23 percent of current congressional membership.
There has been a gradual decline in outright climate denial within Congress, decreasing from 150 members in the 116th Congress to 139 in the 117th Congress, now down to 123 in the current session. However, significant setbacks remain; notably, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is a prominent climate denier unlike his predecessor Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
“Elected officials and the fossil fuel industry must be held accountable for their misleading and deceptive statements on climate change,” stated Kat So, campaign manager for Energy and Environment Campaigns at CAP and author of the report. “Their refusal to accept scientific consensus and continued spread of misinformation are a major obstacle to addressing the climate crisis.”
Of those identified as climate deniers in this report, 106 are incumbents while 17 are freshmen members. Four incumbent members have newly been categorized as climate deniers based on recent statements denying scientific consensus on climate change.
For further details or expert commentary, contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].
