# Mentira tem preço: quem lucra com a desinformação climática? | Thais Lazzeri | TEDxBeloHorizonte Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9FWoBoYkCg Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/j9FWoBoYkCg Generated: 2026-01-12T16:06:27.192+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The main outcome of the talk is that the climate misinformation industry profits significantly by deliberately creating a false equivalency between climate science and climate denial, costing the global economy $2.6 trillion between 2015 and 2019 alone, and this industry is now being named and held accountable through efforts like the Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) network. **Key Points:** - The climate misinformation industry costs the global economy an estimated $2.6 trillion between 2015 and 2019 by sowing confusion about climate change. - The speaker, Thais Lazzeri, advocates for greater transparency and accountability from companies and platforms that profit from spreading climate falsehoods. - Lazzeri founded a multi-platform storytelling studio focused on promoting social change, communication, and storytelling with a focus on climate integrity. - A key strategy of the misinformation industry is creating a false balance, making people doubt established climate science to protect economic interests. - The speaker highlights that 70% of climate denial is spread by a network of media outlets and influencers that profit from this content. - The speaker emphasizes the need to call out those who profit from climate denial, citing that politicians, young activists, engineers, and communicators are often attacked or silenced. - The speaker's personal motivation stems from wanting to leave a better world for her daughter, contrasting the massive financial loss due to misinformation with the cost of climate action. ![Screenshot at 00:24: The speaker, Thais Lazzeri, begins her talk by posing a provocative question to the audience: "Would you pay for a lie?" immediately establishing the central theme of the economic cost of climate misinformation.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/j9FWoBoYkCg/00-00-24.jpg) **Context:** Thais Lazzeri delivers this TEDx Belo Horizonte talk, themed "Entre Veredas" (Between Paths), to expose the economic and social damage caused by organized climate change denial and misinformation campaigns. She frames the issue as a battle between truth and profit, detailing how powerful interests financially benefit from delaying climate action, ultimately threatening the future well-being of society and the planet. ## Detailed Analysis Thais Lazzeri argues that lies about climate change, specifically those designed to create doubt and delay action, are big business, costing the world economy $2.6 trillion between 2015 and 2019. She states that the strategy employed by this industry is to create a false equivalence, making it appear that there is a legitimate debate where there is none, thereby protecting the profits of fossil fuel companies and related entities. Lazzeri notes that 70% of climate denial is amplified by a digital network of outlets and influencers who monetize this content. She points out that this misinformation campaign attacks those who speak the truth, including climate scientists, politicians, activists, and even engineers. To combat this, she advocates for transparency and accountability, citing the importance of initiatives like the Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) network, which aims to expose the entities profiting from climate denial. Lazzeri shares a personal motivation, stating she wants her daughter to inherit a better world, contrasting the massive financial losses from inaction with the cost of implementing climate solutions. She concludes by urging the audience to challenge the narrative and recognize that climate denial is not just a difference of opinion, but a costly industry that actively harms the planet and society. ### Introduction to the Cost of Lies - People pay for lies, especially those countering climate change; this industry costs $78 billion annually or $2.6 trillion between 2015-2019, according to University of Baltimore and Comscore data. ### The Strategy of Misinformation - The core tactic is creating a false equivalency, making climate action seem like an economic threat rather than necessary protection, which benefits the established system. ### Impact on Truth Tellers - Leaders, activists, engineers, and communicators who advocate for climate action face organized attacks and discrediting campaigns. ### Combating the Industry - Lazzeri highlights the need to name the system that profits from confusion, mentioning the Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) network as a tool for holding these players accountable. ### Personal Motivation - The speaker's drive is personal, rooted in the desire to leave a better world for her daughter, contrasting the cost of lies with the cost of solutions. ### Call to Action - The audience must refuse to let misinformation win, trust credible sources, and actively work against the narrative that pits climate protection against economic progress. ![Screenshot at 00:01: Aerial view of a powerful waterfall cascading over dark rocks, illustrating the raw power of nature often contrasted with human actions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/j9FWoBoYkCg/00-00-01.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:14: Thais Lazzeri standing center stage on the TEDx Belo Horizonte platform, wearing a purple jumpsuit, with large visual aids depicting stylized landscapes behind her.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/j9FWoBoYkCg/00-00-14.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:26: On-screen text identifying the speaker: "Thais Lazzeri," as she discusses the new category of lies costing money.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/j9FWoBoYkCg/00-00-26.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:51: A split screen shows the speaker on stage and a magnified image of herself on the left display, emphasizing her role as a communicator.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/j9FWoBoYkCg/00-00-51.jpg) ![Screenshot at 02:07: The speaker gesturing widely, illustrating the vastness of the problem she is describing, with the TEDx stage set visible.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/j9FWoBoYkCg/00-02-07.jpg)