Our annual roundup of the worst falsehoods of the year.
Whoppers of 2024
Issues: sea level rise
Trump Clings to Inaccurate Climate Change Talking Points
Former President Donald Trump, who has famously called climate change a “hoax” for many years, hasn’t used the word lately with respect to climate change. But he still clings to some similar arguments, and other claims he makes about climate change haven’t changed much over the years.
Trump Revives — and Further Decreases — His Absurdly Low Estimate of Sea Level Rise
On the campaign trail this summer, former President Donald Trump has routinely cast doubt on climate change by falsely claiming that the oceans will rise just “one-eighth of an inch over the next 400 years.” He’s previously used the same measurement over a period of 250 years. In fact, the current rate of sea level rise is already a little more than one-eighth of an inch each year.
Antarctic Ice Loss Is Significant, Contrary to Claims
Antarctica is losing ice mass to the ocean, contributing to global sea level rise. But a popular video misrepresented work focused on Antarctic ice shelves — which float in the sea at the edges of the continent — to incorrectly suggest that “it is unclear if Antarctica is losing any ice on balance.”
FactChecking the March Democratic Debate
While debating 6 feet apart due to the coronavirus outbreak, the two leading contenders offered competing versions of the facts on several key issues.
Trump Mocks Global Warming, Lowballs Sea Level Rise
President Donald Trump mocked concerns about global warming, saying that oceans would rise just “[o]ne-eighth of an inch within the next 250 years.” Although he may have been joking, his figure is many times lower than scientific estimates.
FactChecking Biden’s CNN Town Hall
In a televised town hall, former Vice President Joe Biden made several false or misleading statements while commenting on climate change, veterans and health care.
The Whoppers of 2018
Once again, Trump steals the show.
Scientist Schools Congressmen on Climate
During a recent hearing on the role of innovation in addressing climate change, several Republicans made faulty claims about the climate, past and present.
Will Global Warming Benefit Civilization?
Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt suggests that global warming isn’t necessarily “a bad thing” because “humans have most flourished during times of … warming.” But recent years have been the warmest humans have seen over at least the last millennium.