Top 5 Myths and Misconceptions about Climate Change
Misinformation abounds, so here are some handy tips in combating the most common myths, fibs and misconceptions.
We know you’re doing your part and working to convince friends, family and colleagues to green up their acts, but what do you say when you’re met with some resistance?
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about global warming and climate change, so we thought we’d lend a hand and help you set the record straight. So with no further ado, here are the Top 5 Myths About Climate Change, and some handy-dandy verifiable data to use in response.
Myth:
Global warming can’t be real because it’s not getting warmer, it’s getting colder! Didn’t you see the pictures of snow in Washington D.C. this winter?
Fact:
It sure looked that way, didn’t it? But don’t let the wicked—and temporary—winter weather fool you. Scientists have confirmed that temperatures in the past few decades are the highest in at least 1,000 years, soaring well beyond what could have been caused by natural climate variations. The recent increase is even surpassing temperatures in what is called the Medieval Warm Period, between the 9th and 13th centuries, well before we dreamed up the internal combustion engine.
And one result of all that newly warm air is an increase in precipitation, as we recently saw along the east coast. In a recent New York Times Op-Ed, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore explained the record snow was a result of warmer global temperatures putting more moisture in the atmosphere—causing bigger snowstorms in the Northeast.
And global warming is probably the culprit behind these unusually powerful storms as well. While specific storms can’t be directly tied to global warming, the likelihood of more powerful storms seems to increase as temperatures continue to go up.
Myth:
It’s not our fault! Any increase in global temperature is due to natural causes, not a result of an increase in greenhouse gases caused by human activity.
Fact:
While it is true that both nature and human activity have effect global temperatures, that doesn’t mean that people are off the hook. While the Union of Concerned Scientists (USC) concedes natural factors do contribute to increases in the global temperature, the organization can definitively cite evidence for the increasing human influence on climate change. A USC study of Earth's temperature over the last century, comparing human activity and natural causes, shows that from 1950 to the present, most of the warming was caused by heat-trapping emissions from autos, manufacturing and other man-made causes. In fact, these greenhouse gases are having three times the effect on the climate today than they were in 1950.
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Myth:
But I read that the snowmelt has actually been declining in Antarctica!
Fact:
True, but ironically, human activity also caused the snow to stop melting by increasing the size of the hole in the ozone layer, which had a cooling effect. The ban on fluorocarbons is slowly allowing the ozone layer to stitch itself together. The cooling allowed by the hole will soon be overtaken by rising temperatures caused by greenhouse gases, and the
snowmelt will begin to increase.
Myth:
So what? Even if the climate is changing, the increased temperatures are actually good for humans and wildlife.
Fact:
Tell that to the penguins. Climate change is already harming people and animals. As the temperature of the oceans increases, polar bears, penguins and seals will be threatened by the loss of sea ice.
Rising sea levels will force millions of people living in low-lying islands and coastal areas to move. Even those living inland feel the effects of climate change. Drought-stricken land area more than doubled from the 1970s to the early 2000s, according to the
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Parts of Europe, Canada, the US, Africa, and Australia have been experiencing drought conditions. Evidence points to increasing global temperatures as a major factor.
Myth:
Even if global warming is real, there’s nothing I can do to change it.
Fact:
It might seem as though your actions, all by your self, aren’t going to make a big difference in the fight to stop climate change. But you can reduce your carbon footprint significantly by making some relatively simple changes in the way you live your daily life. Green acts like washing your clothes in cold water, turning lights off when you leave the room and limiting your use of heating and cooling in your home can eliminate up to 40 % of your current carbon emissions.
And when you encourage friends, family, neighbors and colleagues to do the same, you’re expanding your impact exponentially.
Remember, together, we’re more powerful than we could ever be alone. And that’s a fact.
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