Doubt
Provided by: The Climate Reality Project|Published on: April 27, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Science, History, Health
Authors: The Climate Reality Project
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This engaging video shows how the strategy to spread doubt and denial about climate change is the same strategy that the tobacco industry used to spread denial of smoking's cancer-causing effects.
- This is an interesting video with a documentary, exposé-like tone.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video can be used as an introduction to the fossil fuel industry's continuing marketing, greenwashing, and propaganda.
- Making the link between tobacco use and the burning of fossil fuels is incredibly powerful. Smoking tobacco is widely seen as harmful. In most social circles, it is frowned upon and culturally unacceptable. Secondhand smoke harms all those around the smoker. This is the same as emissions from burning fossil fuels. However, we as a society are not there yet.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teachers will need to prepare discussion questions or embed the video into a lesson.
Differentiation
- Teachers can integrate this video into language arts curricula when teaching how to evaluate the credibility of sources.
- Students can discuss the questions, "Why do we accept the societal dangers of burning fossil fuels when we don't accept the societal dangers of secondhand smoke?"
- Teachers can also mention current marketing from fossil fuel companies, such as BP's carbon footprint calculator. Students can analyze why BP, a company that sells oil for money, wants consumers to calculate their own carbon footprints.
- A possible extension can be to practice media literacy skills and evaluating the source of the information.
- Teachers can also follow up with this lesson plan about analyzing letters from different sources with conflicting opinions about teaching climate change.
Source data and reports in the video are properly cited and referenced. Only the statement by Dr. Jay Lehr "global warming is the biggest pollution..." is contradictory and misleading. Date: 04/02/2021
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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