Today, we’re diving into a common myth that often clouds the conversation around climate change: the idea that scientists can’t agree on its causes. Spoiler alert: they do!

The Science is Clear

A recent study published in 2021 revealed that over 99.9%[1] of peer-reviewed scientific literature agrees that climate change is primarily caused by human activities. This is a significant update from a 2013 study, which found that 97%[2] of scientific papers published between 1991 and 2012 supported the idea of human-induced climate change. Mark Lynas, one of the authors of the latest study, puts it simply: “We are virtually certain that the consensus is well over 99% now.”[3] This means that the scientific community is largely in agreement that the global warming we’re experiencing is not a natural occurrence—it’s driven by human actions, especially the burning of fossil fuels.

Public Perception vs. Scientific Reality

Despite this overwhelming consensus, public opinion often tells a different story. A 2016 Pew Research Center[4] poll found that only 27% of U.S. adults believed that “almost all” scientists agreed on human-caused climate change. Dechen Tsering from the UN Environment Programme points out that climate deniers often use the idea of disagreement to create confusion and doubt. This makes it harder for people to grasp the reality of the situation.

The Power of Misinformation

So, why does this myth persist? Much of it can be traced back to organized disinformation campaigns funded by fossil fuel interests. These campaigns aim to create confusion and delay action on climate change, giving a platform to a few dissenting voices while overshadowing most of the research that supports human causation.

The evidence is crystal clear: climate change is primarily a result of human activity, and the scientific community is united in this view. As we face more frequent and severe climate-related disasters, it’s essential for us to align our understanding with the science

[1] https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac2966

[2] https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/024024/pdf

[3] https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2021/10/more-999-studies-agree-humans-caused-climate-change

[4] https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/10/04/public-views-on-climate-change-and-climate-scientists/