Climate change is one of today's most debated issues. From activists and celebrities to scientists and environmentalists, nearly everyone has an opinion, and some of us are trying to do our part to curb this potentially fatal shift of the Earth's climate.
However, in order for there to be a debate, we must have an opposing side. Even though, the science of climate change is roughly 150 years old, we still have industrial lobbyists and even politicians that continuously attempt to disprove the facts.
The fear of climate control is so strong amongst the population that companies are believed to be spending about 200 million US dollars each year in attempts at controlling the narrative, delaying scientific findings from being released to the public, or blocking them entirely.
The companies' massive efforts have proved to be effective, although, they are essentially only slowing down any progress that might be made towards fighting these dire shifts in global temperature, people are not fully aware of the dangers.
This intentional "blurring" of scientific facts is much more corrosive than most people think. While these entities use false reports, and even lies to push their global-warming-is-a-hoax agenda, they're directly confusing people of just what the facts are; the Earth is warming.
These lobbyists and naysayers use fabricated myths to undermine the science. Here are some of those myths and the scientific facts that debunk them.
1. Climate change is a natural cycle
Ok, true enough, the climate of Earth does change, but in the study of palaeoclimatology, or "past climates" evidence suggests that the rise in temperatures that we are experiencing now are monumental. Research shows that if the temperatures continue at this rate, they will be higher than at any point in the last five million years.
2. Climate change is due to sunspots or galactic cosmic rays
While sunspots can change Earth's surface temperatures, scientists say that studies show that since 1978 sunspots have shown absolutely no upward trend of heating Earth. Therefore, they are not responsible for the shift in climate.
Galactic cosmic rays come from really far away, other galaxies far away. Some believe that a lack of GCRs could be the reason for Earth's warming, as GCRs are thought to assist in the formation of clouds with reflect sunlight and help keep Earth cool. The two problems with that theory is that over the past 50 years, GCRs have increased and that GCRs simply aren't that helpful in creating clouds.
3. CO2 does not affect the atmosphere due to such small levels
This may be the easiest myth to debunk. It is simple. In a study conducted by Eunice Newton Foote using an air pump, two glass cylinders and four thermometers it is obvious that air mixed with CO2 will heat up quicker, and stay warmer longer than air with no CO2. The amount of CO2 in today's atmosphere is equal to roughly 0.04 percent. While this is an incredibly low percentage, let's remember that it only takes 0.1 grams of cyanide to kill an adult, that's ten millionths of the average body weight.
4. Scientists' manipulation of studies
This is a form of school-yard repertoire. Those who would wish to disprove climate change's effects by simply saying scientists from over 100 countries are all lying, collectively. That is rather ridiculous.
5. Climate models are too sensitive to CO2
This too, is simply not accurate, and exposes an ignorance of just how these models work. There are various models that cover things as small as specific mechanisms such as the understanding of clouds, to general circulation models, that help predict climates.
These models are developed by some of the world's most intelligent people from over 20 major centers. They are continuously updating and adjusting the models using everything from paleoclimatic history to modern day changes such as volcanic eruptions or other natural disasters.
The truth is, there is no real scientific support for the continual denial of climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, set up by the United Nations to openly and transparently summarize the science, provides six clear lines of evidence for climate change.
