Mike Berners-Lee exposes our “socially embarrassing” media habits

Political “deceit” and “abuse”.

Mike Berners-Lee didn’t hold back at the Hay Festival this weekend.

Speaking to a packed audience, he urged us to make the spread of political deceit socially embarrassing.

The Guardian reported on his remarks but, ironically, forgot to mention that in his recent book, The Climate of Truth, Berners-Lee names the Guardian as one of the few media outlets we can still trust.

Why? His reasoning is simple and compelling: follow the money.

In the book, he exposes the web of influence, naming advertisers, board members, and vested interests behind climate misinformation in both media and politics.

His call to action?

“Challenge your friends and family and colleagues who are getting their information from sources that have got nefarious roots or a track record of being careless – or worse – with the truth. We need to make this sort of thing socially embarrassing to be involved in.”

And yet, his message in the book is more nuanced.

Berners-Lee is clear: in a world flooded with misinformation, the clean-up job starts with ourselves. We’re constantly, consciously or subconsciously, consuming information that shapes our thoughts.

Being mindful of what we consume, especially when it comes to information, is a powerful place to start shifting the dial on the climate crisis.

Photograph: Adam Tatton-Reid/Adam Tatton-Reid/Hay Festival from The Guardian