Fact Check: Is climate change real

Fact Check: Is Climate Change Real?

What We Know

The overwhelming scientific consensus is that climate change is real and primarily driven by human activities. According to NASA, approximately 97% of climate scientists agree that human-caused climate change is occurring. This consensus is based on extensive research and evidence collected over decades, which indicates that the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities have significantly increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that since systematic scientific assessments began in the 1970s, the influence of human activity on climate change has evolved from a theoretical concept to an established fact. Data from various sources, including ice cores and satellite measurements, show that Earth's average surface temperature has risen by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) since the late 19th century, with most of this warming occurring in the last 40 years.

Analysis

The evidence supporting climate change is robust and comes from multiple lines of inquiry. Studies have shown that the current rate of warming is unprecedented in the context of the last 10,000 years, with human activities being the principal driver of this change (NASA). The scientific community, including organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Geophysical Union, has consistently reaffirmed that human emissions of greenhouse gases are the dominant cause of observed warming since the mid-20th century.

However, some dissenting voices exist, often highlighted in media reports. For instance, a recent article in the New York Times mentioned that the Energy Department has hired scientists who question the consensus on climate change. While these viewpoints are part of the broader discourse, they do not reflect the prevailing scientific understanding, which is supported by a vast majority of climate researchers and institutions worldwide.

The reliability of the sources cited in this fact-check is high, as they include peer-reviewed studies and statements from reputable scientific organizations. The consensus is further supported by comprehensive reviews of scientific literature, which have found agreement rates of 99% or higher among climate scientists regarding the anthropogenic causes of climate change (Wikipedia).

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that climate change is real is substantiated by a significant body of scientific evidence and the consensus of climate scientists. The data clearly indicate that human activities are the primary driver of recent climate changes, and the scientific community overwhelmingly supports this conclusion. The evidence is compelling, and while there are some dissenting opinions, they do not negate the established facts presented by the majority of climate research.

Fact Check: Is climate change real