University of Kwazulu-Natal

Fact Check What Are Common Skeptic Claims About Climate Change An

Bonisiwe Shabane
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fact check what are common skeptic claims about climate change an

It’s hard to believe, but apparently more than a few climate change deniers still roam our ever-heating planet. According to a recent study in the esteemed science journal PLOS, people systematically understate their disbelief in human-caused climate change when answering surveys, so skepticism is more prevalent than many of us realize. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, it’s crucial that we all do our part to educate any doubters we might encounter. That’s why the Rainforest Alliance has compiled six arguments commonly made by climate change deniers, along with science-backed responses you can deploy to convince them of the truth: that climate change is real, accelerating,... There’s a difference between climate and weather: Weather fluctuates day in, day out, whereas climate refers to long term trends—and the overall trend is clearly and indisputably a warming one. While the impacts of climate change have only just begun to hit the Global North, farmers in the tropics have been contending with impacts—from droughts to floods to a proliferation of crop-destroying pests—for years.

That’s why the Rainforest Alliance works with farmers to take a climate-smart approach. That means first assessing a farm’s particular climate risks, taking the crop and local ecosystem into account, then finding the right combination of tools to manage the farms climate challenges. That’s what makes climate-smart agriculture “smart.” Together, we’re building a future where people and nature thrive. Sign up today and join our movement. It’s true that there have been periods of global warming and cooling—also related to spikes and lulls in greenhouse gases—during the Earth’s long history.

But those historic increases in CO2 should be a warning to us: They led to serious environmental disruptions, including mass extinctions. Today, humans are emitting greenhouse gases at a far higher rate than any previous increase in history. (Before you collapse into a puddle of despair, however, find out about our work to promote natural climate solutions, like community forestry and regenerative agriculture.) The world is warming at a record pace, with unseasonable heat baking nearly every continent on Earth. April, the last month for which statistics are available, marked the 11th consecutive month the planet has set a new temperature high. Experts say that is a clear sign the Earth’s climate is rapidly changing.

But many believe – or at least say they believe – that climate change is not real, relying on a series of well-trodden myths to make their point. “Most of the world rightly acknowledges that climate change is real,” says Dechen Tsering, Acting Director of the Climate Change Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “But in many places, misinformation is delaying the action that is so vital to countering what is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.” This month, delegates will be meeting in Bonn, Germany for a key conference on climate change. Ahead of that gathering, here is a closer look at eight common climate-related myths and why they are simply not true. Myth #1: Climate change has always happened, so we should not worry about it.

Some people claim climate change is a hoax invented for political or financial gain, but scientific evidence shows otherwise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that over 97% of actively publishing climate scientists agree that the Earth’s climate is warming and human activities are the main cause. NASA has tracked rising surface temperatures since the late 19th century, revealing an undeniable upward trend. The last decade has been the warmest on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The myth of a hoax is often spread by misinformation and political agendas, but the science is clear. Multiple independent scientific organizations worldwide have confirmed the reality of climate change.

The data comes from satellite measurements, ocean buoys, and land-based weather stations. Denying this overwhelming evidence ignores decades of rigorous, peer-reviewed research. Another widespread myth is that climate change is simply part of the Earth’s natural fluctuations. While it’s true that the climate has changed over millions of years, today’s changes are happening much faster than in the past. Scientists have studied ice cores, tree rings, and sediment layers to understand natural cycles, and none match the speed and scale of recent warming. The IPCC emphasizes that human activities like burning fossil fuels have rapidly increased greenhouse gases, causing temperatures to rise.

Natural factors like volcanic activity and solar cycles cannot account for the current pace of change. The current warming is not a return to some past natural state but a new and dangerous trend. Evidence shows that the planet is warming faster now than at any time in at least the last 2,000 years. This myth distracts from the urgent need for action. Saying “the climate is always changing” is technically true but misleading. Past climate shifts happened over thousands or even millions of years, allowing ecosystems and species to adapt gradually.

Today, the rate of change is so rapid that animals, plants, and even human societies are struggling to keep up. The World Meteorological Organization reports that extreme weather events are happening more often and with greater intensity. Modern climate change is not just a repeat of ancient cycles but a crisis caused primarily by burning coal, oil, and gas. The sudden rise in global temperatures, sea levels, and changing weather patterns is not “normal.” If left unchecked, this rapid change will outpace our ability to adapt. Ignoring the unique speed of today’s warming risks severe consequences for all life on Earth. Despite overwhelming evidence, some still argue that global warming is not happening.

However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that the Earth’s average surface temperature has risen by about 1.2 degrees Celsius since 1880. Glaciers and Arctic sea ice are melting at record rates, and sea levels are rising steadily. The last seven years have been the warmest since record-keeping began, according to NASA. Heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts have become more common across the globe. These are not isolated events but part of a global pattern of warming. Scientific measurements from land, sea, and satellites all confirm this trend.

Denying global warming ignores a massive body of consistent, reliable data. Some people point to cold snaps or snowstorms as proof that global warming isn’t real. But weather and climate are not the same. Weather refers to short-term local conditions, while climate is the long-term average of weather patterns. In fact, climate change can lead to more extreme and unpredictable weather, including cold spells. The “polar vortex” can bring unusually cold air to certain areas even as the planet overall warms.

The IPCC explains that climate change disrupts established weather patterns, making extremes more likely. Global warming doesn’t mean every place gets hotter at all times. It means the average temperature of the Earth is rising, even if some places still experience cold days. In the last 20 years, we’ve seen an unprecedented increase in extreme weather events. How do we know this? The data proves it.

Until 2005, there were less than 5 billion dollar weather events per year in the US. Now, the US averages 23 per year (NOAA). This is because human-caused climate change warms the air and oceans. Warmer air holds more moisture, and warmer oceans provide more energy—fueling the production of more frequent and intense weather extremes like tornados, tropical cyclones, heat waves, and polar vortex disruptions. The past ten years 2015-2024 are the ten warmest years on record (WMO). That’s pretty unbelievable.

Better believe it, though. Climate change skeptics are individuals who question various aspects of anthropogenic climate change, a term that reflects the belief that human activities significantly contribute to climate alteration. This skepticism exists along a spectrum, ranging from reasonable scientific inquiries regarding data and modeling to outright denial of climate change itself. While some skeptics acknowledge certain elements of human impact on the climate, others express doubts about the reliability of climate models, data measurement, or the historical context of climate change. Skeptical views can also encompass beliefs that climate change might yield beneficial effects or that the economic and political costs of mitigation efforts outweigh the potential benefits. The significance of these skeptical perspectives is rooted in the complexity of climate science, which involves vast data collection and the use of intricate models to predict future climate scenarios.

This debate is not only scientific but also has profound implications for policy, economics, and national security. Furthermore, the discourse around climate change is often influenced by external interests, with some skeptics affiliated with organizations that oppose greenhouse gas reduction initiatives. While many questions remain about the extent and implications of climate change, there is a growing consensus on certain established facts, such as the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels since the Industrial Revolution... Understanding the range of skepticism is crucial for navigating the contentious climate change dialogue. In the climate change debate, the term "skeptic" is a generic term widely used to denote people who question some or all notions of anthropogenic climate change. The term "denier" was previously used but is unsatisfactory for several reasons.

First, many skeptics accept some aspects of anthropogenic climate change. Also, the term "denier" implies arbitrary or unreasonable doubt about anthropogenic climate change, whereas many doubters believe they have sound reason for being skeptical. The term "skeptic" has emerged as a general label used by both sides in the debate because it is reasonably neutral. There remain people on both sides who use more polemic and less neutral terms to describe the opposition. The range of skeptical opinion on anthropogenic climate change spans a spectrum from relatively mild and reasonable concerns about data gathering or interpretation, on one hand, to outright denial that climate is changing at... In roughly increasing order of dissent, skeptical positions include:

(1) Concerns about features not adequately modeled by climate studies, such as cloud cover What do we know about global temperatures? How do we know this is caused by humans? The fact that the earth’s climate is changing is undeniable. Despite science telling the world that for years, and climate change denialism almost going out of fashion, it has remained a hot button topic for debate. How?

Why? Because the types of action required to reverse or slow down change require changes to how humans live. People disagree on everything from how much needs to be done to who should be held most responsible. Climate action is then challenged even further by false and misleading claims and conspiracy theories that try to undermine calls for serious change. In some instances, misinformation and disinformation efforts seek to rebuff the fact that man-made climate change exists or to detract from how serious it is, and the level of threat that it poses to...

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