Claim reviews
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
The energy costs of manufacturing wind turbines are recouped in one to six months; turbines are financially profitable over their lifetimes
CLAIM
Wind turbines in the US are made of toxic materials that pollute the environment, are mostly built in Germany, and will not pay off their manufacturing costs within their lifetimes.
SOURCE: Internet User, Facebook
Published: 08 Apr 2021
VERDICT
Solar geoengineering isn’t happening or damaging the planet; aircraft contrails are formed by water vapor, not chemicals
CLAIM
"The intentional dimming of direct sunlight by aircraft dispersed particles, a form of global warming mitigation known as “Solar Radiation Management”, has and is causing catastrophic damage to the planet’s life support systems."
SOURCE: Dane Wigington, Geoengineering Watch
Published: 25 Mar 2021
VERDICT
Connecting a generator to the wheel of an electric vehicle won’t recharge its battery
CLAIM
The rotating wheel of an electric vehicle can recharge the vehicle’s battery by affixing a generator
SOURCE: Ozzy's Classics, Facebook
Published: 15 Mar 2021
VERDICT