DEBUNK: 🎅 Seasonal Smog! 🎄
This year we’ve seen a wave of false claims from opponents of climate action exploiting the Ukraine war & energy crisis to push fossil fuels.
Here are the top 6 bogus climate claims of 2022 - & the evidence for why they're wrong.🧵 #DeBunk
1. Net Zero
Climate deniers pushed the false idea that net zero policies caused the energy crisis
In fact, it's caused by the high wholesale price of gas, hiked by the Ukraine war.
Timely climate action could’ve saved households billions. @DrSimEvans
carbonbrief.org/analysis-cutti…
2. ‘Solar & wind vs food’
In 2022 some MPs falsely claimed more onshore wind & solar farms would threaten farming
In fact, renewables plans would use 0.32% of UK land (0.02% wind + 0.3% solar). 71% of UK land is currently used for agriculture @DefraGovUK
eciu.net/media/press-re…
3. Fracking
This year climate deniers, media & MPs pushed for fracking “to cut energy bills”. PM Liz Truss adopted this policy.
In fact, shale gas would be sold at (high) global prices. Renewable energy is 9x cheaper.
(... & fracking causes earthquakes)
theguardian.com/environment/20…
Fracking was a key demand of the network of backbench MPs & activists around Global Warming Policy Foundation who oppose net zero & push fossil fuels.
For more on this network see DeSmog’s map:
desmog.com/2022/03/18/map… #DeBunk
4. Climate forecasts
In January, author Jordan Peterson used his large platform to claim climate models are unreliable & full of “errors”.
In fact, climate models have accurately predicted global temperature rises.
carbonbrief.org/analysis-how-w… Graphic: @CarbonBrief
Jordan Peterson was a major source of climate science misinformation this year, calling climate action “totalitarian”.
See more on Peterson & climate in our DeSmog profile: desmog.com/jordan-peterso…
5. Coal.
Michael Gove claims the newly approved coal mine in Cumbria is needed to produce steel for UK use.
In fact, UK steel industry figures say 90% of its coal would be exported due to high levels of sulphur &the shift to greener ways to produce steel
theguardian.com/environment/20…
Gove also claims carbon offsets will make the new Cumbria coal mine “net zero”.
In fact, it will emit 400k tonnes of greenhouse gas per year (= to 200k cars) before the coal is even burned.
Carbon offset experts call Gove’s claim “nonsense”.
theguardian.com/environment/20…
6. Sun & wind
This year saw claims renewable energy “does not work” because the amount of sunlight & wind varies.
In fact, wind & solar can generate majority of energy cheaply & reliably, supported by storage & other sources. Graphic: @NationalGridESO
iea.org/news/renewable…
If you enjoyed this #DeBunk round-up of some of 2022’s false climate claims, share this thread & follow @DeSmog for more.
You can read about our DeBunk project here:
desmog.com/2022/10/31/des… /end
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