Ice cold disasters that shook the planet
This is one of the biggest misconceptions among climate change skeptics. Many believe that it might affect other parts of the world and that animals will be affected, yet they'll stay safe for many years to come.
This is a common talking point among climate change skeptics, which could be plausible if science relied on just one or two records.
In fact, various analyses over many years have shown that between 90% and 100% of publishing climate scientists agree that humans are the main cause of global warming.
It's still possible for the world to reach net-zero (cutting greenhouse gas emissions) and to limit warming to 34.7°F (1.5°C), but much more action is needed this decade, especially from governments and businesses.
Sources: (CBS News) (Forbes) (World Wide Fund for Nature)
See also: The dire consequences of climate change on everyday life
Contrary to popular belief, most scientists don't disagree that climate change is happening and that it's caused by humans.
While it's clear that we're running out of time, there's still a limited window of opportunity to implement policies and take action this decade to ensure we avoid the worst effects of climate change.
The reality is that the global warming we've seen over the last few decades is too rapid and drastic to be linked to changes in the Earth's orbit, and too large to be caused by solar activity.
While it's true that China is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, they're also one of the largest investors in renewable energy. The increase in investment is in response to the growth of green business and the need to clean up air pollution.
The Sun gives life to our planet, and keeps it warm enough for us all to survive. It also influences Earth’s climate, but not as much as some would imagine.
In the end, climate change is a global issue, and we all have a responsibility to step up to the climate crisis.
However, there are many different temperature records produced by various independent bodies worldwide, and their data is actually consistent with each other.
As we cut down more trees and clear away plants for agricultural purposes, we decrease the amount of CO2 that can be absorbed. This directly exacerbates climate change and carries some serious consequences.
From rising sea levels to rising temperatures, man-made climate change is the biggest environmental crisis of our time. And it's already a threat to us now.
While it's true that plants do need carbon dioxide (CO2) to live, the problem is there's only so much carbon dioxide they can absorb, and this amount is getting less. They need CO2 to go through the process of photosynthesis, which creates the energy required for them to grow.
As previously mentioned, climate change affects weather in a wide variety of ways. This means harsher weather in general, which can actually make it colder than usual.
However, multiple studies show it only takes an average of six months for a wind turbine to "pay back" the amount of energy used to build it.
As scientifically inaccurate as this claim is, unfortunately, it's a common argument from climate change deniers.
Back in the '70s, when climate change gained scientific relevance, it was theorized its effects wouldn't impact us much until a few centuries had passed. However, today, we're already seeing the devastating effects of climate change.
For this conspiracy to be true, it would require tens of thousands of scientists across the globe to be paid off, which isn't realistic at all.
Many climate change deniers will unfortunately hold on to this myth. In 2018, shortly after the second part of the National Climate Assessment came out, Rick Santorum, a former Republican Senator, claimed that climate scientists "are driven by the money that they receive."
Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind farms, are commonly claimed by climate change deniers to be unreliable and an unreal alternative to fossil fuels.
While it is true that on a windless day wind farms produce no power, this isn’t how a wind farm optimally functions. The same is true of a solar farm on a cloudy day. There are various technologies that can harness this energy and store it, so that it can be used during less optimal weather conditions.
Another myth is that it takes more energy to build renewable sources, such as wind turbines, than they can produce in their operable lifetimes.
The sad reality is that instead of species adapting to the changing environment, we're witnessing one of the largest mass extinctions in all of history.
This fast warming corresponds with levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which have been increasing since the Industrial Revolution. So, when people talk about climate change today, they mean anthropogenic (man-made) climate change.
As the Earth’s average surface temperature increases, extreme weather events are getting more likely and more severe.
And as much as we might wish it away, climate change is here to stay until we do something meaningful about it.
It's true that over the course of the Earth's 4.5-billion-year history the climate has changed a lot. However, the changes that would normally occur over millions of years are now happening at a much more rapid rate over decades.
While it is true that the Earth's species can adapt to extreme change, it’s unfortunately not a rapid evolution.
Unfortunately for them, that's not the case at all. With global temperatures rising, the weather will become fiercer, and we're already witnessing this in all corners of the world.
Curious? Click on for some of the biggest myths about climate change.
Common myths about climate change
Let's clear up some of the most frequently heard myths
LIFESTYLE Environment
If you've ever witnessed a discussion about climate change, in person or online, you've probably encountered some dubious arguments about what the science says. While some of those claims may sound logical, they're actually misleading or entirely inaccurate. These topics have thoroughly been studied and debunked over and over again by climate scientists, but, still, the myths persist.
Curious? Click on for some of the biggest myths about climate change.