The Rise of Anti-Net-Zero: Jordan Peterson and the ARC Conference

From Self-Help Guru to Geopolitical Influencer

Jordan Peterson, the self-help author known for his conservative views, has expanded his influence beyond online punditry and into the realm of global policy. His platform, amplified by platforms like Ben Shapiro's The Daily Wire, is increasingly focused on a strident opposition to net-zero policies.

Peterson's Alberta upbringing, amidst the world's third-largest oil reserves, perhaps offers a glimpse into his perspective on climate action, which he often derides as an infringement on personal freedom. For him, a world failing to reach net-zero is not a cause for concern, but a reason to celebrate.

ARC: A Conservative Davos Challenging the Climate Consensus

The ARC Conference, orchestrated by Peterson, has become a nexus for right-wing figures to strategize against climate action. This international gathering, spanning from Canada and the US to the UK, Europe, and Australia, aims to dismantle the net-zero framework and reshape the public discourse around climate change.

Attendees at the conference openly discussed influencing national political platforms and forging transatlantic alliances to disseminate anti-renewable energy messages. Their goal, as articulated by Peterson, is to expose what they call the “environmentalist climate scam” and terminate the "appalling policy" of net-zero worldwide.

A Transatlantic Alliance Against Climate Action

ARC is not simply a talking shop. It serves as a launching pad for concrete political action. From supporting the U.K. branch of the Heartland Institute, a prominent climate denial think tank, to collaborating with politicians in Austria and Hungary to oppose EU ecosystem restoration laws, the network actively works to undermine climate progress.

Figures like U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former fracking CEO, used the conference to label net-zero a “sinister goal” aimed at increasing government control and curtailing human freedom – echoing conspiracy theories popular among climate deniers.

Peterson's Expanding Reach and the Rise of Climate Denial

Peterson's journey from a psychology professor protesting Canadian gender discrimination laws to a key player in the global anti-net-zero movement is a testament to the power of social media. His online following, coupled with his podcast distributed by The Daily Wire, has propelled him to a level of influence that rivals traditional media outlets.

This online platform has allowed Peterson to elevate fringe voices, including climate deniers like Judith Curry, providing them with millions of views and legitimizing their often scientifically unsound claims. He's even hosted figures like Bjorn Lomborg, who, while acknowledging climate change, downplays its urgency and pushes the narrative of a “green fantasy.”

Shifting the Overton Window on Climate

ARC and its network aim not merely to reject climate action, but to shift what’s considered acceptable public discourse on the topic. They are pushing the boundaries of acceptable debate increasingly rightward, normalizing climate denial and framing any action as an attack on freedom and economic prosperity.

A researcher from Corporate Europe Observatory, reacting to the growing transatlantic alliance, described it as “quite simply terrifying.” This sentiment underlines the stakes of this fight, as influential networks work to dismantle the global consensus on the urgency of climate action.