Epistemic Crisis and Climate Action: How the Super-Rich Influence Public Knowledge
George Monbiot argues that an epistemic crisis—where knowledge production is dominated by the super-rich—has become a key barrier to climate action despite the availability of technology and money.
He explains that there was never a golden age of unbiased public knowledge; rather, power has always shaped public information, with propaganda serving elite interests.
Wealthy individuals control much of the media and digital platforms, enabling propaganda that favors capital accumulation and suppresses efforts aimed at redistribution.
In the United States, allies of former President Trump have consolidated legacy media outlets, increasing attacks on those challenging wealth and capital dominance.
For example, two fracking billionaires funded PragerU with $8 million and the Daily Wire with $4.7 million to extend climate denial and promote pro-wealth messaging.
A Yale study found that eight of the ten most popular online shows disseminate climate science denial, highlighting Joe Rogan for promoting claims of global cooling that contradict scientific consensus.
Sky News’ investigation into Elon Musk’s platform X revealed reporters' exposure to a large volume of right-wing content, suggesting algorithmic bias influenced by senior management, although X denies these claims.
Capital also wields influence in outlets not owned by billionaires; scrutiny has been placed on coverage at the New York Times and the BBC’s hosting of Tufton Street think tanks, raising calls for transparency regarding fossil fuel sponsorship.
Furthermore, lobbying efforts such as those by the Energy and Utilities Association through WPR to promote heat pumps illustrate this influence.
A June review by the International Panel on the Information Environment warned that inaccurate climate narratives create a feedback loop contributing to political inaction.
Cop30 president André Corrêa do Lago noted that enthusiasm among rich nations to act on climate issues has diminished.
Monbiot frames this situation as a deliberate attack on knowledge by the super-rich and calls for a defense of truthful knowledge to prevent climate breakdown.
