Claim reviews

Coral cover in the Great Barrier Reef improved in 2021, but that doesn’t mean the reef is ‘growing quickly,’ contrary to Daily Wire claim

CLAIM

Study Shows The Great Barrier Reef Is Growing Quickly

SOURCE: Ben Zeisloft, The Daily Wire

Published: 30 Oct 2021

VERDICT

Electric cars aren’t seven times more expensive than gasoline-powered cars, as claimed on Facebook

CLAIM

An electric car “costs more than seven times as much” as a gasoline powered car

SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook

Published: 21 Oct 2021

VERDICT

A 2014 study showed that the US Corn Belt is one of the biggest primary producers on Earth in July, but didn’t show that it produces more oxygen than the Amazon

CLAIM

"the US corn crop, at its peak, produces 40% more oxygen than the Amazon rainforest."

SOURCE: Facebook users, Facebook (see claim in context)

Published: 23 Sep 2021

VERDICT

Global warming contributes to increased heat-related mortality, contrary to Bjorn Lomborg’s unsupported claims that climate change is saving hundreds of thousands of lives each year

CLAIM

"Global warming saves 166,000 lives each year"; those claiming that climate change is causing heat-related deaths are wrong because they ignore that the population is growing and becoming older

SOURCE: Bjorn Lomborg, New York Post, Facebook

Published: 15 Sep 2021

VERDICT

Sea temperatures around the Great Barrier Reef have increased over the last 150 years, contrary to claim at Wattsupwiththat

CLAIM

"Great Barrier Reef Sea Surface Temperature: No Change In 150 Years"

SOURCE: David Mason-Jones, Wattsupwiththat?

Published: 08 Sep 2021

VERDICT

Solar forcing is not the main cause of current global warming, contrary to claim by Alex Newman in the Epoch Times

CLAIM

The Sun and not human emissions of carbon dioxide may be the main cause of warmer temperatures in recent decades. There is a systemic bias in UN IPCC's data selection.

SOURCE: Alex Newman, The Epoch Times, The Western Journal, Newsmax

Published: 30 Aug 2021

VERDICT