Susie Dodds from Australia’s AAP FactCheck recently tackled misinformation regarding climate change in a TikTok video. This video responded to claims circulating on social media that alleged “elites” fabricated climate change discussions in the 1990s to enhance control over citizens. In truth, scientists have sounded alarms about the human impact on the climate for decades.
Dodds notes that misleading narratives often gain traction, like the assertion that a 1991 report from the Club of Rome was a plot to promote climate change fears. In reality, this report warned of significant environmental threats caused by human activity.
Despite the pushback from conspiracy theorists, evidence linking human actions to climate change stretches back as far as the late 1800s. Notably, in 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius published a paper that underscored the role of carbon dioxide in warming the Earth.
Over the years, many scientists have built on Arrhenius’s work. In 1938, Guy Callendar highlighted increased global temperatures over 50 years. Then, in 1958, Charles David Keeling began monitoring atmospheric carbon levels, laying essential groundwork for climate research.
By 1967, researchers Syukuro Manabe and Richard Wetherald developed the first reliable computer model of Earth’s climate. Their predictions about carbon’s effects match data showing a 50% rise in atmospheric carbon since the pre-industrial era, corresponding with a temperature increase of 1.1 degrees Celsius (approximately 2 degrees Fahrenheit).
Dodds firmly states, “Climate change is not a conspiracy. It’s established science, and it has been for nearly a century.” This sentiment resonates with many, especially in light of investigations revealing that ExxonMobil was aware of the consequences of fossil fuels on climate change as early as the 1970s but chose not to act.
User reactions on social media reveal a blend of skepticism and a demand for factual clarity. While some dismiss climate science as “socialist nonsense,” others advocate for attention to empirical evidence. Surveys indicate that nearly two-thirds of people believe in climate change, underscoring a collective urge to address environmental issues.
In our current climate crisis, understanding the science behind it is crucial. We must navigate through misinformation and focus on credible research to confront the environmental challenges we face today. For those interested, more detailed information can be found in reports from sources like the UK Research and Innovation and credible environmental organizations.
Source link
Climate Change,Home,Outdoors,Righteous Indignation Moment,Social Moment,TikTok,Yahoo Life