Donald Trump’s speech yesterday at the United Nations General Assembly could hardly have been more damaging. Their impacts are experienced well beyond the precincts of the UN in New York City. His assertion that climate change is “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” has fueled a resurgence of climate disinformation in Australia, uniting conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccine advocates at events like the Reckless Renewables Rally in Canberra. This burgeoning movement is the biggest challenge to Australia’s energy transition so far. It further raises the temperature on an already heated, and often toxic, national conversation around climate change.
Trump is winning support among demographics he often alienates, except among the oil and gas sector, who has provided him with unprecedented donations. At the same time, lies about both climate science and the benefits of renewable energy are racing across our country. This article explores the shocking deployment of disinformation throughout Australia. It takes a look at its origins, influence, and the $800 billion dollar industry’s pushback to localities and experts who oppose it.
The Influence of Trump’s Rhetoric
Donald Trump’s recent 57-minute speech at the UN should raise alarm bells all over the world, but more so for its clear and undeniable falsehoods. His fictive claim that climate change is a Chinese hoax has helped amplify this lie to people who already learn to distrust climate science.
“Evidence, data, and expert analysis bounce off his bronzed hide like tennis balls off a rhino.” – Bill McKibben
As Trump’s statements echo through Australia, they have ignited discussions laden with misinformation, leading many to question the validity of climate science. The Reckless Renewables Rally continues to attract the interests of conspiracy theorists across the globe. This is further testimony to the way that Trump’s influence extends well outside of American borders.
This rally is a testament to the power of Trump’s rhetoric. It has uniquely radicalized that section of Australia’s conservative base that atavistically rejects the very notion of climate change. The intersection between anti-vaccine sentiment and climate skepticism is another example of a growing trend that rejects scientific consensus altogether.
Rising Disinformation Campaigns
In fact, just over the course of recent months, climate change-related disinformation has dominated the Australian landscape. One such example was a billboard in Port Stephens showing an image of a dead whale with the suggestion that offshore wind turbines caused its death. Despite the alarming tone, this story is simply a rehash of previous unfounded arguments made in the United States that offshore wind farms kill sea creatures.
In 2023, social media platforms contributed to the circulation of these spurious studies. One particularly shocking insinuation estimated that, in Australia, offshore wind farms would be responsible for the deaths of 400 whales annually. These claims are completely false but they are intended to incite panic and opposition to renewable energy projects.
“These narratives are not random — they are strategically financed by vested interests, amplified by international disinformation networks, and spread through unregulated digital platforms.” – Advance’s submission
The emergence of organizations like Responsible Future (Illawarra Chapter) highlights how local groups have mobilized against proposed renewable energy projects. RFI grew out of a multitude of these Facebook groups and has quickly turned into a leading national force against offshore wind projects. Grassroots opposition does best when it’s fueled by confusion. Renewables must not be an existential threat to the communities they’re coming to.
Community Responses and Polarization
That schism is increasingly clear on the recently completed and highly contentious energy transition down under in Australia. Some local farmers, like Charlie Prell, have reported increased property values due to nearby wind turbines, which they view as beneficial investments. Based on his experience, Prell is confident that his property value has increased as much as $1.5 million due to these installations.
Politicians like Queensland Senator Matt Canavan have railed against renewables equally harshly. He refers to wind farms as “factories and industrial dumps,” undertaking the meaningful environmental impact of the farms.
“They’re gonna be destroyed in a matter of a year. They’re gonna be destroyed.” – Senator Matt Canavan
Experts caution that this kind of polarized rhetoric is harmful. Professor Matthew Hornsey argues that these types of stories form a breeding ground for disinformation to prosper and since then ripping communities apart.
“If there is such a thing as ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’, it follows that there exists ‘correct’ information.” – Advance’s submission
Hornsey emphasizes the urgency of addressing these issues, stating, “We’re trying to do this massive transformation to respond to this existential threat of climate change.” He admits people like Trump know how to use the public to bend the perception in order to stop change before it really gets started.
