FAQ

There is a firm and ever-growing body of evidence that points to a clear picture: the world is warming, this warming is due to human activity, and if emissions continue then so will warming. The consequences could be deadly.

However, there are still plenty of skeptics out there, who are yet to be convinced. So if you've ever raised the questions below, or you know someone who still believes these myths, click on the links to get the truth (information supplied by New Scientist magazine).

Can we trust the science?

• Chaotic systems are not predictable.
• We can't trust computer models of climate.
• Many leading scientists question climate change.
• It's all a conspiracy.
• They predicted global cooling in the 1970s.

Is the sun to blame?

• Global warming is down to the Sun, not humans.
• It's all down to cosmic rays.

Does CO₂ cause warming?

• Human CO₂ emissions are too tiny to matter.
• CO₂ isn't the most important greenhouse gas
• Ice cores show CO₂ increases lag behind temperature rises, disproving the link to global warming.
• Ice cores show CO₂ rising as temperatures fell.
• The cooling after 1940 shows CO₂ does not cause warming.

What happened in the past?

• The 'hockey stick' graph has been proven wrong.
• It's been far warmer in the past, what's the big deal?
• It was warmer during the Medieval period, with vineyards in England.
• We are simply recovering from the Little Ice Age.

What is happening now?

• Mars and Pluto are warming too.
• Antarctica is getting cooler, not warmer, disproving global warming.
• Polar bear numbers are increasing.
• The lower atmosphere is cooling, not warming.
• The oceans are cooling.

What is going to happen?

• Warming will cause an ice age in Europe.
• Higher CO₂ levels will boost plant growth and food production.
• Hurricane Katrina was caused by global warming.

Why should I worry?

• It's too cold where I live - warming will be great.
• We can't do anything about climate change.

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