Education

Climate Change Myths vs. Facts

There is a lot of information available on climate change and not all of it is accurate. Check out our top 5 climate myths and the real facts behind the issues.

Myth #1: Climate Change is not real.

FACT: The vast majority of scientists agree that Climate Change is happening. We need to take actions now to limit the negative impacts of climate change.

The graphs below highlight a little of the scientific data on greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) and global temperatures. The first graph shows recent increases in global atmospheric CO2 concentrations (red and yellow curves) and the coincident increase in global average temperatures (blue line). The second graph shows the long term correlation between atmospheric CO2 concentrations and global average temperatures over the last 400,000 years.

"Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level."

IPCC, Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report, Summary for Policy Makers 2007.

» Download PDF (125 KB) of image above.

Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal, data from: J.R. Petit, J. Jouzel. et. al. Climate and atmospheric history of the past 420 000 years from the Vostok ice core in Antarctica, Nature 399 (3June), pp 429-436, 1999. Available: http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/temperature-and-co2-concentration-in-the-atmosphere-over-the-past-400-000-years

Myth #2: Climate Change is part of a natural cycle not related to human activity.

FACT: Natural variation alone is unable to account for the temperature changes observed over the last 50 years. Human activity (including burning fossil fuels for energy and transportation and cutting down trees for lumber and agriculture) is primarily responsible for the observed changes.

The Earth's climate has varied between glacial and non-glacial periods over millions of years. Historic data shows atmospheric concentration of CO2 and global temperatures changing over thousands of years. Recent increases have happened extremely quickly (over decades) and the current concentration is 35 percent greater than at any other time in at least the last 650,000 years.

Myth # 3: Taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change will be bad for the economy.

FACT: Policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced emissions control technologies will stimulate the economy, create new jobs, decrease our dependence on foreign oil, and increase our energy security.

Goodman, S. et. al., 2007. National Security and the Threat of Climate Change (PDF, 684 KB). CNA Corporation. Alexandria, VA.

Repetto, R. 2007. See for Yourself How Greenhouse Gas Emissions will Affect the American Economy. Yale University Website.
http://www.climate.yale.edu/seeforyourself/ (Accessed April 30, 2008)

Myth #4: Even if the earth is warming, that may actually help us more than hurt us.

FACT: Climate change will increase global average temperatures, but perhaps more importantly, it will also change weather patterns, causing some regions to experience more intense or longer periods of drought while other regions experience more intense or more frequent storms and floods. All these factors together could result in a 20 percent reduction of global gross domestic product.

Stern, N. 2006. Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change. HMS Treasury. Cambridge. UK. ISBN: 0-521-70080-9

Myth #5: It is only big corporations that create greenhouse gas emissions.

FACT: Most of our individual lifestyle choices either directly or indirectly create greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse gas emissions are created primarily from burning fossil fuels (oil, gasoline, coal, propane and natural gas) to produce the energy needed for the following everyday activities:

• Driving and air travel.
• Operating home electronics, lighting, heating, cooling and cooking.
• Treating, transporting, and heating water for drinking, cleaning and cooking.
• Producing and transporting consumer goods and food.
• Transport and process waste, as well as greenhouse gases emitted from waste as it breaks down in landfills.

Together we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money, increase our energy independence and protect our climate.

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