Can we really afford to ignore misinformation? This article argues no. Drawing on evidence across public health, democracy, and climate communication, the paper shows that misinformation is more… | The Decision Lab

Can we really afford to ignore misinformation? This article argues no. Drawing on evidence across public health, democracy, and climate communication, the paper shows that misinformation is more widespread (and more influential) than some recent claims suggest. Even when effects appear small in isolation, they can meaningfully shape beliefs, intentions, and behavior at scale. The takeaway is nuanced but firm: we shouldn’t panic, but we also shouldn’t minimize. Misinformation isn’t the only driver of behavior, but looking past it risks repeating familiar mistakes. This work comes from an interdisciplinary team spanning psychology, communication, and the history of science:  Ullrich Ecker, Li Qian Tay, Jon Roozenbeek, Sander van der Linden, John Cook, Oreskes Naomi, and Stephan Lewandowsky. Read the full paper here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eCRNkfeB

There’s a persistent myth that new solar farms don’t really help tackle climate change because panels are “made with coal” and “never pay back” their carbon debt. This is simply false. What the… | Jan Rosenow | 50 comments

There’s a persistent myth that new solar farms don’t really help tackle climate change because panels are “made with coal” and “never pay back” their carbon debt. This is simply false. What the evidence shows: - Solar’s lifecycle emissions (manufacturing + shipping + installation + operation) are far lower than fossil fuels. UN data (2021) indicates typical ground-mounted solar is 8x cleaner than gas and 19x cleaner than coal per kWh. - Recent analysis for Carbon Brief finds solar panels exported from China in 2024 repay their “carbon debt” in about four months. Over their lifetimes, they avoid ~4.1 GtCO2—around 57x the upfront manufacturing emissions. - The IPCC concurs: thanks to higher efficiencies and cleaner manufacturing, solar’s lifecycle emissions are roughly an order of magnitude below coal and gas, and falling further as grids decarbonise. Claims that solar “emits more than it saves” rely on flawed assumptions and outdated data. | 50 comments on LinkedIn

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