Here Are The Links Between Cambridge Analytica And Climate Change Denial

Last week, people all over the world heard the name Cambridge Analytica for the first time. The revelation that the firm used Facebook to obtain data from unsuspecting users has finally put them in the spotlight, but they're definitely not new on the block: Behold a key piece in the modern industry of fake news and election swindling that's behind historical events such as Brexit and Trump's election.

But how does Cambridge Analytica relate to climate denial?

DeSmogBlog and its British branch DeSmog UK have become, in the last few months, some of my references on how to treat greenwashing from an investigative journalism angle. Their climate denial databases for the US and the UK are not only a great picture of our post-truth times, but also an amazing tool for journalists. And this article proves the point.

It's not a secret that Donald Trump is a climate science denier. His positions are way beyond sowing doubt on the causes. He actually believes that polar caps are doing great. But is this just another of his personal antics or does it respond to a more general position of the network that bought his seat at the White House?

Thanks to its extensive database, DeSmog UK has been able to trace the relationship between Cambridge Analytica and networks of climate deniers on both sides of the Atlantic. In America, Robert and Rebekah Mercer are the key elements, through close relations with the Koch brothers and other climate deniers. Of course, media control is also in the mix through characters such as Steve Bannon. The links are not so clear in Europe, but still, the names of a few interesting foundations come up.

The article is extremely well sourced, with more links than you'll be able to follow. And you can also skip the reading and just explore the map itself by clicking on it. Zoom in and get to know how evil never walks alone.

Note: If you'd like to know more about Cambridge Analytica and the Mercers, this terrifying article from The New Yorker is for you.