With the recent climate change agreement in Paris, we provide here a recap of false and misleading claims about climate change that we have fact-checked in recent years.
Climate Change Review
Issues: climate change
Ethanol: Higher Emissions or Lower?
In dueling TV ads, foes of the federal ethanol mandate claim that it “doubles greenhouse gas emissions,” while the ethanol lobby says that “the oil industry is lying” and the mandate will lead to lower emissions.
Sanders on Climate Link to Terrorism
Sen. Bernie Sanders went too far with his debate claim that “climate change is directly related to the growth of terrorism.”
Smith Misfires on Climate Science
The chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has made several inaccurate or misleading claims about climate science in an ongoing battle with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Al Gore Cherry-Picks Green Jobs Data
Former Vice President Al Gore said there has been an “88 percent growth in green jobs, year over year, over the past year.” That’s misleading. Gore cited data on job openings, not actual jobs, and the data was for two quarters, not a full year, and more than a year old.
FactChecking the CNN Republican Debate
The candidates flubbed claims on vaccines, immigration, Hillary Clinton and more.
Palin Off on Glaciers and Global Warming
Sarah Palin says man isn’t to blame for climate change, citing the fact that some glaciers in Alaska are expanding. But an individual glacier’s growth does not disprove the existence or causes of global warming. The vast majority of glaciers are losing ice rapidly.
Santorum’s Climate Consensus Claims
Rick Santorum made two false claims regarding the scientific consensus on climate change in an interview with HBO’s Bill Maher.
The Bear Facts
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has said at least twice that climate change is causing bears in the Sierra Nevada mountains to change their hibernation patterns. There is no evidence that climate change is actually having such an effect.
Mailbag: Volcanic Versus Human SO2 Emissions
Readers sent us letters regarding the contributions of human-caused and volcanic emissions of sulfur dioxide, or SO2.