# Myths about Climate Change? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 5, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myths-about-climate-change/199636 "2003-09-05T01:33:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Homer\_J.Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a698b9/32.png) [@Homer\_J.Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer_J.Simpson)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myths-about-climate-change/199636/1 "2003-09-05T01:33:47Z")
Are the linked myths about climate change really myths? [http://envirotruth.org/myths.cfm](http://envirotruth.org/myths.cfm) ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myths-about-climate-change/199636/2 "2003-09-05T01:48:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homer J. Simpson \* > \*\*Are the linked myths about climate change really myths? > [http://envirotruth.org/myths.cfm](http://envirotruth.org/myths.cfm) \*\* Well, I believe that we have had global warming since the end of the last ice age. This current, and real, global warming trend that we are now in, at least initially, was certainly NOT caused by hair spray nor freon air conditioners nor car exhausts. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myths-about-climate-change/199636/3 "2003-09-05T01:59:52Z")
It’s possible, even likely that human activity has to some extent exacerbated the current state of global warming, but there is simply insufficient evidence to sugest we are wholly responsible. The Earth has gone through frar more tumultuous change in it’s past, long before humans became industrialized. That said, measure to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses and lower energy consumption can’t hurt, and might help. Calling them frivolous and counterproductive is irresponsible at best. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myths-about-climate-change/199636/4 "2003-09-05T02:08:57Z")
Envirotruth is sponsored by [The National Center for Public Policy Research](http://www.nationalcenter.org/Welcome.html) which describes itself thusly: > [@](#): > > The National Center for Public Policy Research is a communications and research foundation dedicated to providing free market solutions to today’s public policy problems. We believe that the principles of a free market, individual liberty and personal responsibility provide the greatest hope for meeting the challenges facing America in the 21st century. > > In 1982, we started The National Center to provide the conservative movement with a versatile and energetic organization capable of responding quickly and decisively to fast-breaking issues. Today, we continue to fill this critical niche through a top-flight research and communications operation driven by results and the bottom line. They _might_ be slightly more agenda driven than science driven. I Dunno, looks like a case of “They report, you decide.” ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myths-about-climate-change/199636/5 "2003-09-05T04:09:36Z")
Not sure what they mean by ‘consensus of world scientists’, however you find that a majority of climatologists would agree that although there is not ‘proof’ that humans contribute to climate change, the balance of evidence “suggests that there is a discernible human influence on global climate.” [If you like pictures](http://www.ipcc.ch/present/graphics.htm) - from IPCC (I couldnt find the link to IPCC on the envirotruth page) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myths-about-climate-change/199636/6 "2003-09-05T18:14:07Z")
It is a purely _political_ site. The chances that there is significant agreement with the majority of scientists is nearly nil. Note basic flaws in reasoning: E.g., We don’t know if we are destroying the Earth, so let’s pretend we’re not and ignore the whole thing. Keep in mind, the guys who originally predicted ozone depletion were wrong. They were too conservative. It was depleted faster than they predicted. (There is a lot of hooey about ozone depletion still being spread on the 'Net as well, long after the science was adequately verified.) It’s politics, not Science. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myths-about-climate-change/199636/7 "2003-09-05T18:37:59Z")
Just taking a quick look through the site, a bunch of the refutations posted rely on the work of Dr Tim Patterson of Carleton University. I don’t know anything about Dr. Patterson, but when you see one scientist used over and over again as a citation, beware. My gut reaction is that politics comes before science on that site. Looking at the website for the National Center for Public Policy Research, I find interesting arguments like: “In a society in which it is considered permissible to offer methadone to heroin users and clean needles to drug addicts, it is reasonable to promote smokeless tobacco as an alternative to cancer-causing cigarettes.” [Cite](http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA479.html) “Transportation is a modern necessity. Big government has inadvertently made SUVs and minivans the only vehicles that can accommodate many families.” [cite](http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA481.html) “Yet, energy has to come from somewhere, and as America’s environmentalists oppose oil, natural gas, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, burning coal and even, when thought unsightly, wind farms, they really ought to tell the American people how they intend to keep the future from looking an awful lot like the Great Blackout of August 2003. Though I suppose by then we’ll call them ‘Greenouts.’” [cite](http://www.nationalcenter.org/NPA484.html) As for the specific claims on climate change, I think those points can be safely dismissed by the large majority of climate scientists, but seeing as how that organization apparenty has an axe to grind, I doubt its that useful to go into specifics that haven’t already been noted. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myths-about-climate-change/199636/8 "2003-09-05T18:58:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Susanann \* > \*\*This current, and real, global warming trend that we are now in, at least initially, was certainly NOT caused by hair spray nor freon air conditioners nor car exhausts. \*\* No, it was probably initiated when people started burning large amounts of coal during the Industrial Revolution.