Claim reviews
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
Despite 2021 being a good year for coral health, coral in the Great Barrier Reef has declined over the past decade and is threatened by climate change, contrary to claims by Peter Ridd
CLAIM
“The amount of coral on the Great Barrier Reef is at record high levels”; those claiming the reef is threatened by climate change are alarmists
SOURCE: Peter Ridd, The Australian, Climate Change Dispatch, Watts Up With That?
Published: 21 Aug 2021
VERDICT
YouTube video falsely claims that climate models systematically over-estimated warming and that we are heading towards an ice age
CLAIM
"The official observed temperatures are coming consistently below the scary global warming numbers"; "Melting polar ice triggers ice age"
SOURCE: Ben Davidson, Suspicious0bservers
Published: 27 May 2021
VERDICT
No device can plug into your car’s fusebox to improve engine efficiency and turn it into a hybrid
CLAIM
Plugging this device into a car’s fuse box can reduce fuel consumption by at least 35% and up to 75% by converting the car into a hybrid.
SOURCE: Anonymous, Christianity Today
Published: 05 May 2021
VERDICT
Biden’s climate plan doesn’t say anything about limiting meat consumption, contrary to Daily Mail, Fox News claim
CLAIM
Biden’s climate plan limits meat consumption by 90%; “Biden's climate plan could limit you to eat just one burger a MONTH”
SOURCE: Emily Crane, Daily Mail
Published: 29 Apr 2021
VERDICT
A third of Antarctic ice shelf risks collapse at 4°C above pre-industrial levels, as accurately described in CNN article
CLAIM
"A third of Antarctic ice shelf risks collapse as our planet warms"
SOURCE: Amy Woodyatt, CNN
Published: 16 Apr 2021
VERDICT
In viral Turning Point USA video, Candace Owens and Charlie Kirk falsely claim there is no evidence of global warming and scientists don’t know the cause
CLAIM
There is no factual data to back up global warming; real scientists don’t know whether CO2, solar sunspots or natural activity cause global warming
SOURCE: Candace Owens, Charlie Kirk , Turning Point USA
Published: 16 Apr 2021
VERDICT
Deserts cool the planet by reflecting solar radiation to space; vegetated areas have an overall warming effect, so planting trees in deserts doesn’t necessarily cool the planet
CLAIM
"Deserts are heat producers, reflecting around 60% to 70% of the solar energy that falls on them straight back into the atmosphere."; "If we want to do something about global warming, we have to do something about deserts."
SOURCE: Ties Van der Hoeven, Steve Rose, The Guardian
Published: 09 Apr 2021
VERDICT