‍Top 5 climate change denial myths (and how to respond)

Despite overwhelming scientific consensus, climate change denial still exists in various forms. Whether it comes from political motives, economic interests, or plain old misinformation, these myths are slowing down the necessary action required on one of the greatest global challenges. 

In this lesson, we’ll explore five common climate change denial myths you may have come across and provide evidence-based responses to help counter them effectively.

Myth 1: "The planet isn't getting warmer. Look how cold this winter was! Climate change is a hoax."

Response:

The confusion between weather and climate is a common source of this misconception. Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, such as a cold winter, while climate refers to long-term patterns over decades and centuries. A single cold winter doesn’t disprove global warming.

According to data from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Earth’s average surface temperature has risen by approximately 1.3°C (2.3°F) since the late 19th century. 

The last decade has included some of the warmest years on record, with 2020 tying with 2016 as the warmest year ever recorded globally. The trend is undeniable, and it’s primarily driven by human activities like the burning of fossil fuels.

Just because it’s cold on New Year’s Eve in one part of the world doesn’t mean the planet as a whole isn’t warming.

Myth 2: "Okay, it's getting warmer, but that's just part of the natural cycle. It's not caused by humans."

Response:

While it’s true that the Earth has experienced natural climate cycles in the past, the current warming trend is unprecedented in both its speed and cause. Historically, climate changes were driven by factors like volcanic activity, variations in the Earth's orbit, and solar radiation. 

However, the rapid increase in greenhouse gas emissions—particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) from burning fossil fuels—since the Industrial Revolution has pushed global temperatures higher than at any time in the last 800,000 years.

Ice core records, which provide climate data stretching back hundreds of thousands of years, show that current CO2 levels (now over 420 parts per million (ppm)) are far higher than at any point in pre-industrial times. 

This sharp rise coincides with the increase in human industrial activities. The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) confirms with high confidence that over 95% of the warming observed since 1950 is due to human activities (source).

Myth 3: "Okay, warming is caused by GHG emissions, but so what? There’s no consensus on the harms. It might actually be good for us."

Response:

This myth misrepresents the scientific consensus and the known impacts of climate change. While there may be minor local benefits (such as extended growing seasons in some areas), the global effects are overwhelmingly harmful.

For example:

• Extreme weather: Warmer temperatures are leading to more intense and frequent hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires. These events cause billions of dollars in damages and disrupt millions of lives. The wildfires in Australia (2019-2020) and California (2020) are stark examples of climate-fueled disasters becoming more frequent and destructive.
• Agriculture: While some regions may temporarily see longer growing seasons, others will suffer from drought, heat stress, and unpredictable weather patterns, making farming more difficult and threatening food security.
• Health: The World Health Organization estimates that climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 due to heat stress, malnutrition, and the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue fever (source).

In fact, the vast majority of climate scientists agree that the net impacts of climate change will be negative, and some are already irreversible. The idea that warming could be "good" ignores the massive social, economic, and environmental costs.

Myth 4: "Okay, it’s harmful, but we can adapt. It’s not happening that fast, and humanity is resilient."

Response:

Adaptation is crucial, but it’s not a silver bullet. The speed and scale of current climate change far exceed anything humans have faced in the past. While some adaptation is possible, many impacts will be too severe, too rapid, or too expensive to manage effectively.

Take sea level rise as an example: some low-lying areas, such as the island nations of Tuvalu and Maldives, are already losing land to rising waters. Coastal cities like Miami and New York are spending billions on infrastructure projects to stave off flooding, but not all areas have the resources to do this. The IPCC warns that if global temperatures rise beyond 2°C, many effects will be beyond adaptation, particularly for poorer nations.

Even in wealthier nations, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like hurricanes, heatwaves, and wildfires is overwhelming emergency services and infrastructure. The costs of adaptation are rising exponentially, and in many cases, mitigation (reducing emissions) is far cheaper and more effective in the long run.

Myth 5: "Okay, it’s serious, but there’s nothing we can do about it!"

Response:

This myth is rooted in defeatism, and it’s simply not true. While climate change is already happening, it’s not too late to prevent the worst outcomes. Every fraction of a degree of warming we prevent will save lives, preserve ecosystems, and protect economies.

Countries around the world are already taking action. The Paris Agreement, signed by nearly 200 nations, commits to limiting global warming to well below 2°C, with efforts to keep it under 1.5°C. Many countries, including the European Union and the United States, have set ambitious targets to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050.

Meanwhile, renewable energy technologies like wind, solar, and battery storage are becoming cheaper and more widespread. In fact, the cost of solar power has dropped by 73% over the past decade, making it more competitive than fossil fuels in many regions. Transitioning to a low-carbon economy is not only possible, but it’s already happening.

International cooperation is critical, but individual countries, cities, and communities can make significant contributions. From carbon pricing to reforestation projects, there are a variety of proven strategies that are already working to reduce emissions.

Debunking Climate Change Myths with Evidence

The science is clear: climate change is real, it’s caused by human activities, and it’s already having harmful effects. However, with concerted action, we can still mitigate its impacts and build a more sustainable future.

By staying informed and spreading accurate information, we can help break through the misinformation and push for the urgent actions necessary to address the climate crisis.