Behind every anti-science rant is a fossil fuel lobbyist with a plan.
If you’ve ever wondered why climate denial just won’t die—despite record heat, rising seas, and nonstop disaster footage—it’s not because people are confused. It’s because fossil fuel giants have spent decades funding the far-right political machine to keep their profits safe. This isn’t about opinion or ideology—it’s about money. A lot of it. And the people shouting the loudest about “hoaxes,” “green tyranny,” and “woke energy” are often cashing checks from the same polluting power players behind the scenes.
It’s all connected: the science denial, the anti-regulation noise, the attacks on renewable energy. These aren’t organic movements—they’re manufactured outrage campaigns, pumped full of PR money and fossil fuel influence. And once you start pulling at the threads, it’s painfully clear. The far right didn’t just stumble into climate obstructionism—it was built, shaped, and bankrolled by the industries that stand to lose the most.
1. Think tanks funded by oil companies are scripting the far-right climate narrative.
Those polished reports claiming climate change is “overstated” or “not proven”? A lot of them trace back to think tanks directly funded by fossil fuel giants. According to Helena Horton for The Guardian, the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) in the UK, which has led opposition to net-zero policies, has received funding from groups with oil and gas interests, despite its claims of independence.
They don’t need to win the argument—they just need to slow it down. Delay is the new denial. As long as these think tanks keep muddying the waters with glossy PDFs and fake expertise, lawmakers have cover to do nothing.
And if you dig into who’s writing the checks, it’s the same energy corporations that have everything to lose from meaningful climate policy. These aren’t debates. They’re disinformation campaigns in suits.
2. Media outlets with fossil fuel backers are pushing anti-climate propaganda.
It’s not just opinion pieces anymore—it’s entire networks feeding viewers a steady diet of climate denial, green energy fearmongering, and anti-science spin. Per Alison Gold for Boston University, many of these outlets, including major media networks, have ties to fossil fuel donors, either through ad revenue, corporate ownership, or board members, allowing energy giants to influence the message.
Turn on certain news channels, and you’ll hear more about the “dangers” of wind farms than the reality of wildfires. Solar panels become a threat to freedom. EVs are framed as tools of control. It’s not journalism—it’s PR. The goal isn’t to inform—it’s to confuse, distract, and divide. And while viewers think they’re hearing “both sides,” what they’re really getting is a carefully constructed narrative that protects fossil fuel profits at all costs.
3. Climate-denying politicians are funded by energy industry donations.
Ever wonder why some lawmakers seem dead-set on ignoring climate science? Follow the money. Fossil fuel companies donate millions to political campaigns, and it’s not just for show—it’s a business investment. In return, they get friendly legislation, gutted regulations, and public statements that protect their bottom line. The louder the denial, the fatter the checks usually are.
As reported by Karin Kirk for Yale Climate Connections, in the 2024 election cycle, the oil and gas industry contributed approximately $24 million to U.S. lawmakers, with nearly 90% of those funds directed toward Republicans who often oppose climate action. And when they’re caught, they spin it as standing up for “working Americans” or “energy independence.” But the reality is clear: their loyalty lies with the companies funding their careers. And while the planet burns, they’re too busy cashing campaign checks to care.
4. Culture wars are being used to distract from fossil fuel damage.
When you see far-right influencers raging about electric stoves, gas cars, or “climate lockdowns,” it’s not really about appliances or freedom—it’s about distraction. Culture wars are a smokescreen. While the public argues about whether wind turbines are “woke,” fossil fuel companies keep drilling, polluting, and raking in record profits without anyone noticing.
The strategy is simple: get people fired up about fake threats so they won’t notice the real one. Turning climate action into a left-vs-right issue makes it easier to stall actual progress. It stops being about science and becomes about identity. And once it’s tribal, logic goes out the window. Meanwhile, the companies pulling the strings are laughing all the way to the bank, because the outrage machine keeps everyone too distracted to demand real change.
5. Industry lobbyists are writing the legislation that keeps fossil fuels alive.
You’d think elected officials were drafting climate policies themselves—but a lot of that work is quietly done by fossil fuel lobbyists. These lobbyists aren’t just whispering in politicians’ ears. They’re literally writing the bills. Loopholes, subsidies, regulatory rollbacks—it’s all hand-crafted by people paid to keep oil and gas flowing, no matter the cost to the planet.
And it works. Billions in tax breaks and fossil fuel subsidies pass under the radar, buried in legalese and political noise. Lawmakers then turn around and claim it’s “pro-business” or “common sense,” never mentioning who actually benefits.
It’s not democracy—it’s corporate influence on autopilot. And when voters push for green policy, these lobbyists are already five steps ahead, making sure that what looks like climate progress still keeps fossil fuel profits safe.
6. Climate protests are being criminalized to protect fossil fuel interests.
It’s no coincidence that states with deep fossil fuel ties are pushing harsh laws against climate activists. Peaceful protestors are getting slapped with felonies for things as basic as holding signs near pipelines or blocking roads for a few minutes. Meanwhile, actual environmental destruction goes unpunished. The goal here isn’t safety—it’s silence.
These laws aren’t about maintaining order. They’re about scaring people into backing down. By labeling protestors as “domestic extremists” or “eco-terrorists,” fossil fuel-aligned lawmakers shift the narrative and make public dissent look dangerous. It’s a power move—and it’s working. People think twice before speaking up, organizing, or taking action. And while the far right cries about free speech being under attack, they’re quietly cheering on laws that shut down anyone challenging oil and gas profits.
7. Anti-science rhetoric is being fueled by fossil-funded disinformation campaigns.
You’ve probably heard it: “Climate change is a hoax,” “Scientists are paid off,” “The data’s fake.” None of this came out of nowhere. It’s the result of a decades-long campaign to make science look like opinion. Fossil fuel companies have poured millions into planting doubt, funding pseudo-experts, and amplifying conspiracy theories that keep people skeptical, confused, and divided.
It’s not just about climate either. This distrust spills into public health, education, and environmental policy. Once science becomes “just another belief system,” it’s easy to dismiss anything that threatens corporate power.
The playbook is simple: discredit the messengers so the message never lands. And the far right runs with it, pushing the idea that facts are elitist, data is political, and “common sense” should override research. It’s not ignorance—it’s strategy. And fossil fuel money is the fuel.
8. Public schools are being targeted to push pro-fossil fuel messaging.
In some states, fossil fuel interests are getting cozy with school curriculums—funding educational materials that downplay climate change or frame oil and gas as “essential” to American freedom. These lessons often look neutral on the surface, but they’re loaded with bias. Kids are being taught that renewables are unreliable, regulations are bad, and fossil fuels are the heroes of economic progress.
It’s sneaky and effective. By shaping minds early, these companies lock in future support before students even get a chance to think critically about energy, climate, or science. And since the far right loves to frame public schools as battlegrounds for “ideological war,” it’s the perfect cover. While everyone’s arguing about books and bathrooms, fossil fuel propaganda quietly slips into lesson plans—and nobody notices until it’s too late.
9. Voter suppression helps keep fossil-friendly politicians in power.
You might not connect voter ID laws or gerrymandering with climate change, but they’re absolutely linked. The fossil fuel industry knows that the people most likely to support bold climate action—young voters, urban voters, marginalized communities—are often the same people being blocked or discouraged from voting. Suppress their voice, and you protect the status quo.
Far-right lawmakers pass restrictive voting laws under the guise of “election integrity,” but what they’re really doing is locking in fossil fuel loyalty. If you control who votes, you control who gets elected—and who makes decisions about energy, regulation, and environmental justice. It’s not just political maneuvering. It’s strategic survival for an industry that can’t win a fair fight in a truly democratic system.
10. Renewable energy is being smeared to keep fossil fuels on top.
You’ve probably heard the talking points: “Wind turbines kill birds,” “Solar panels don’t work when it’s cloudy,” “Electric cars are worse for the environment.” These arguments sound scientific, but they’re often pushed by groups bankrolled by fossil fuel money. The goal isn’t to win the clean energy debate—it’s to stall it long enough for oil and gas companies to keep cashing in.
It’s a classic tactic: sow doubt, inflate minor flaws, and repeat the same handful of scare stories until people stop trusting the alternatives. Meanwhile, the far right frames renewables as a threat to freedom, turning a clean energy transition into a culture war. It’s not about facts—it’s about control. And every time people get distracted by false claims, fossil fuel profits keep rolling in while real solutions are left to gather dust.
11. International far-right alliances are working together to protect fossil fuel empires.
It’s not just happening in the U.S.—far-right movements around the world are teaming up to resist climate policy. From Europe to South America, fossil fuel money is flowing across borders, funding political campaigns, think tanks, and media empires that push the same anti-green, anti-science narrative. They frame climate action as “globalist overreach” and rally support by stoking nationalism, fear, and conspiracy theories.
This isn’t coincidence—it’s coordination. These groups may wear different flags, but they share the same playbook: deny the crisis, delay the solutions, and protect fossil fuel profits at all costs. And as the climate emergency becomes more urgent, these alliances are growing stronger. What looks like random chaos is actually a well-funded, international strategy to keep the oil flowing—no matter who pays the price.