Misconception: Humans are not responsible for the surge in
carbon dioxide emissions. ​
What Research shows: Data from the Goddard Institute shows that
carbon dioxide was at an atmospheric concentration of
291 parts per million in 1880. In 1950, it had risen to 311 ppm and to
370 ppm by 2000. Strikingly, in 2016
NOAA’s reported global annual average reached 402 ppm.
​
Misconception: Considerable segments of the scientific
community disagree over the causes of climate change.
What Research shows: In fact, the consensus is strong. A 2013 study
that examined nearly 12,000 abstracts found that 97 percent of the
papers that expressed an opinion on the causes of climate change
said humans were responsible.
Climate Change Misconceptions
Misconception: The climate constantly changes or has in the past; therefore,
humans are not causing the earth to warm.
What Research shows: Scientist have distinguished human-made climate
change from natural change. Research strongly supports human-made CO2 as
the primary cause of recent warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change -- the leading group studying
the problem -- finds there is
little possibility for other factors driving recent warming of the earth. It finds
human activity is "extremely likely" the driving factor.
​
