University of Kwazulu-Natal

Fact Check Is Climate Change Real Factually Co

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
fact check is climate change real factually co

Multiple lines of evidence, including measurements of a variety of planetary indicators, show that climate change is happening and is caused primarily by human activity. As the concentration of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere has increased — much of it from burning fossil fuels — land and ocean temperatures have risen, along with sea levels,... The changes are consistent with the basic physics of the greenhouse effect that have been understood since the mid-1800s and map to what is expected from human activity. Importantly, the warming of the planet, which is far more rapid than anything experienced in many millennia, cannot be explained by natural variations in the climate, despite claims to the contrary. Scientists also know that fossil fuels are the main source of the carbon dioxide because of the chemical signature of the molecules in the atmosphere. The evidence for climate change is overwhelming.

As NASA says, there is “unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate” and that human activity “is the principal cause.” The 2023 National Climate Assessment similarly states, “Human activities—primarily emissions of... "A sensational paper in top science journal Nature has found 'no change in the warming rate beyond the 1970s,' blowing holes in alarmist claims that global temperatures are surging, says Chris Morrison," an October... Other posts and climate-skeptic publications drew similar conclusions across platforms and in languages, including French, Dutch, Greek, Italian and German, following the publication of a study (archived here) in the scientific journal, Nature, on... But using the article's conclusions to claim that there has been no additional warming since the 1970s is highly misguided, scientists say, noting that the models used in the study instead detect a consistent... "Our study affirms steadily increasing surface temperatures since the 1970s," Claudie Beaulieu, associate professor in the Ocean Sciences Department at the University of California Santa Cruz and lead author of the paper (archived here),... "It is very worrying to hear that our paper is used by climate deniers to make false claims," she said.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. By definition, climate change is the periodic modification of Earth’s climate due to changes in the atmosphere and interactions between the atmosphere and other geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic factors within the Earth system. All living things respond to climate and changes in the climate, even if these changes are subtle and temporary. Some of the most noticeable examples include the shedding of leaves by flowering plants when water availability is low and shelter-seeking behaviors and dormancy in animals in response to colder or drier conditions. It seems that life on Earth is adapted to tolerating a changing climate to some degree, and this is evidence that climate changes, but our own experience of climate throughout our lifetimes, along with... From a certain perspective, daily weather could be considered a type of climate change.

Temperatures move up and down during the course of the day; winds change speed and direction; and rain and snow pass through different areas over the course of a day. Although we can sense each one of these phenomena, such moment-to-moment changes are usually set apart from the climate discussion. Weather is simply the set of atmospheric conditions at one location at one limited period of time. Climate, however, involves the average condition of the atmosphere over a long period of time (such as across a few decades or more) at a given location. Every place on Earth experiences seasonal variation in climate (though the shift can be slight in some tropical regions), and this variation is caused by seasonal changes in the amount of sunlight (solar radiation)... Year-to-year climate changes also occur; they include droughts, floods, and other events caused by a complex array of factors and Earth system interactions—including atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns (such as El Niño, La Niña,...

Climate variations also take place at timescales lasting decades, with clusters of wet, dry, cool, or warm conditions that span several years in a row for given locations. At timescales of thousands of years beyond human lifetimes, climate responds to the precession (slow rotation or “wobble”) of Earth’s axis, the planet’s tilt (obliquity), and the changes to the elliptical shape (eccentricity) of... These phenomena interact with one another to determine the amount of sunlight (and thus solar heating) different parts of Earth’s surface receive during different seasons of the year. We must also consider that the amount of radiant energy Earth receives from the Sun is slowly increasing, which adds more and more energy to the mix over time. Is climate change real? The natural phenomena described above demonstrate that it is, but this is not the whole story.

Human activities also affect climate, and a consensus of scientists are sure that the impact of these activities is playing an ever-greater role in determining what form Earth’s climate takes. There is unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate. Human activity is the principal cause. Earth's climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 800,000 years, there have been eight cycles of ice ages and warmer periods, with the end of the last ice age about 11,700 years ago marking the beginning of the... Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives.

The current warming trend is different because it is clearly the result of human activities since the mid-1800s, and is proceeding at a rate not seen over many recent millennia.1 It is undeniable that... This extra energy has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land, and widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and biosphere have occurred. Earth-orbiting satellites and new technologies have helped scientists see the big picture, collecting many different types of information about our planet and its climate all over the world. These data, collected over many years, reveal the signs and patterns of a changing climate. Scientists demonstrated the heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases in the mid-19th century.2 Many of the science instruments NASA uses to study our climate focus on how these gases affect the movement... From the measured impacts of increases in these gases, there is no question that increased greenhouse gas levels warm Earth in response.

World Environment Day encourages collective action to tackle the challenges that are facing the planet - with the focus in 2025 on plastic pollution. Another of those big challenges is climate change, which you have probably read about in stories ranging from reports of extreme weather to news about sea temperatures heating up. But as well as hearing the facts on this issue, you may have also come across some fake news about the topic. In fact, some people even call climate change itself ‘fake news’, even when it’s been proven to be real. Why does this happen? Watch this TikTok from the BBC Verify team, who explain why climate change is real and define what global warming is.

Is climate change real? Maybe you think climate change is a hoax. But the science couldn't be clearer. Global warming is happening and the way we live is making things worse. A study into global warming proves it is a hoax. False.

The study detected no change in the rate of temperatures rises, but it found the globe has indeed been warming for decades. AAP FACTCHECK – A study in a prestigious scientific journal proves global warming is a hoax because it found that temperature rises have not surged, social media posts claim. The claim is false. The study found that the rate of global warming has not accelerated since the 1970s, but it did find that temperatures have been constantly increasing. The claim is in a Facebook post sharing a screenshot of another social media post featuring a graph of temperatures from 1850 to the present day. Multiple social media posts continue to downplay or, in some cases, outright deny the existence of climate change despite overwhelming evidence supporting the scientific consensus it exists and is fueled by human activity.

One Facebook post shared Jan. 25 went as far as calling the concept a "fraud." Nick Adams, a conservative pundit, shared a post featuring a photo of himself with text superimposed on the image assailing climate change. "Global warming is the most significant fraud perpetrated on humanity this century," Adams said in the text. Adams included a caption with the photo that dismisses technology meant to combat climate change, saying, "no more windmills, no more solar panels and no more electric cars." A Jan.

29 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows heat maps of the U.S. and makes a series of claims about climate and weather. "Global cooling was real from 1944 to 1982," reads text in the post. "Global warming was real from 1983 to 2006. Since 2007, sea ice has been expanding at both poles. 2021 was the coldest winter ever recorded in Antarctica.

The Earth goes through cycles which aren't caused by man." The post also states that January 1990 was warmer than 2025 and asks "a climate hoaxer" for an explanation. The post was shared more than 2,000 times in two weeks. More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page

People Also Search

Multiple Lines Of Evidence, Including Measurements Of A Variety Of

Multiple lines of evidence, including measurements of a variety of planetary indicators, show that climate change is happening and is caused primarily by human activity. As the concentration of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere has increased — much of it from burning fossil fuels — land and ocean temperatures have risen, along with sea levels,... The changes are consis...

As NASA Says, There Is “unequivocal Evidence That Earth Is

As NASA says, there is “unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate” and that human activity “is the principal cause.” The 2023 National Climate Assessment similarly states, “Human activities—primarily emissions of... "A sensational paper in top science journal Nature has found 'no change in the warming rate beyond the 1970s,' blowing holes in alarmist claims that global te...

Our Editors Will Review What You’ve Submitted And Determine Whether

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. By definition, climate change is the periodic modification of Earth’s climate due to changes in the atmosphere and interactions between the atmosphere and other geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic factors within the Earth system. All living things respond to climate and changes in the climate, eve...

Temperatures Move Up And Down During The Course Of The

Temperatures move up and down during the course of the day; winds change speed and direction; and rain and snow pass through different areas over the course of a day. Although we can sense each one of these phenomena, such moment-to-moment changes are usually set apart from the climate discussion. Weather is simply the set of atmospheric conditions at one location at one limited period of time. Cl...

Climate Variations Also Take Place At Timescales Lasting Decades, With

Climate variations also take place at timescales lasting decades, with clusters of wet, dry, cool, or warm conditions that span several years in a row for given locations. At timescales of thousands of years beyond human lifetimes, climate responds to the precession (slow rotation or “wobble”) of Earth’s axis, the planet’s tilt (obliquity), and the changes to the elliptical shape (eccentricity) of...