Why understanding the post-truth condition is crucial in the fight against climate change

Abstract

In an era characterized by information overload and polarized perspectives, the discourse surrounding climate action has become deeply entwined with the phenomenon of post-truth. This thesis focuses on how current approaches of forwarding climate policies are met by significant resistance from the post-truth perspective and, therefore, prove to be inefficient. The problem lies in the lack of understanding of the post-truth condition and the complexity of the individuals at the receiving end of the policies. The discontent of ‘post-truthers’ with authorities and their truth claims especially plays in the hands of populist right-wing parties, whose influence is rising. Those parties are, however, constraint by their ideology to effectively fight or even acknowledge climate change. The main argument of this paper is that current climate policies clash with the post-truth condition in a way that fosters an increased popularity of populist parties and, therefore, do not result in effective climate change action. As a solution, I propose more participatory bottom-up approaches and the inclusion of plurality and discussion on climate policies and the truths they are based on.