Debunking Common Myths: CO₂, Sea Levels, and the Reality of Climate Change

In his viral X post, Australian journalist and author Peter Clack questioned mainstream climate science, claiming that Earth has been cooling for 50 million years and remains in an ice age with ice at both poles. He argued that carbon dioxide emissions have not significantly impacted global temperatures, and ocean levels have risen only a few millimetres. Clack dismissed the climate crisis as “bogus” and criticized moves away from coal, oil, and gas, claiming such actions undermine the future—views that clash with well-established scientific evidence on human-driven climate change and its global effects.

Claim post:

Earth's been cooling for 50 million years & is still in an ice age with ice at both poles. Carbon dioxide didn't change the world & oceans rose only a few mm. The bogus climate crisis never arrived. Yet human society is dismantling the future by discarding coal, oil & gas. pic.twitter.com/nrcqPrZkIc

— Peter Clack (@PeterDClack) November 3, 2024

Claim 1: Earth’s been cooling for 50 million years & is still in an ice age with ice at both poles.

Fact: While Earth’s cooling trend began approximately 50 million years ago, recent data shows rapid warming, especially since the Industrial Revolution. According to NASA and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), fossil fuel-driven greenhouse gas emissions have sharply reversed the natural cooling trend, resulting in accelerated warming over the last 150 years.

The term “ice age” is technically correct, but the Holocene epoch we are in now represents a relatively warmer period in Earth’s glacial cycles. Polar ice is melting rapidly, with the Arctic losing about 13% of its sea ice per decade. Warming-induced polar ice loss contradicts Clack’s implication of stable ice at both poles and highlights the ongoing impacts of global warming.

Claim 2: Carbon dioxide didn’t change the world

Fact: Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a potent greenhouse gas that has significantly influenced Earth’s climate. Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, CO₂ levels have surged by over 50%, from approximately 280 parts per million (ppm) to more than 420 ppm today. This rise is primarily due to human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, directly correlating with increases in global temperatures and extreme weather events.

The scientific consensus, supported by the IPCC, NASA, and multiple research studies, confirms that CO₂ traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to rising global temperatures, changing weather patterns, and more frequent climate extremes. This correlation between increased CO₂ and global warming shows the gas’s substantial role in transforming the environment, contradicting Clack’s assertion that it has not changed the world.

Claim 3: Oceans rose only a few mm

Fact: Contrary to Clack’s claim, global sea levels have risen about 20 cm (8 inches) since the late 19th century, driven by melting polar ice and thermal expansion of seawater. Both NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) document this trend and indicate it’s accelerating, with projections suggesting several feet of additional rise by 2100 if emissions continue at current rates.

The impacts of rising sea levels are already visible in coastal flooding, shoreline erosion, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater resources. Studies from the IPCC highlight how rising seas, driven by climate change, threaten coastal communities and ecosystems worldwide, contradicting the claim of minimal ocean rise.

Claim 4: The bogus climate crisis never arrived

Fact: The impacts of the climate crisis are already unfolding, as evidenced by more extreme weather, increased global temperatures, and ecosystem disruptions. Reports from the IPCC, the World Meteorological Organization, and other leading scientific bodies highlight the reality of climate change, which includes frequent heatwaves, severe storms, and prolonged droughts affecting millions globally.

In 2023 alone, the world experienced record-breaking heatwaves, devastating wildfires, and catastrophic flooding events—all linked to climate change. These events illustrate the crisis Clack dismisses, which scientists agree will only worsen without immediate mitigation efforts.

Claim 5: Human society is dismantling the future by discarding coal, oil & gas

Fact: Reducing fossil fuel reliance is crucial to mitigating climate change, and transitioning to renewable energy sources is essential for a sustainable future. Solar, wind, and other renewables offer clean, economically viable alternatives to fossil fuels, helping to reduce pollution and stimulate economic growth. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewable energy adoption not only supports economic resilience but also reduces dependency on volatile fossil fuels.

Burning coal, oil, and gas is a major driver of CO₂ emissions, which are intensifying global warming. Studies show that shifting from fossil fuels is necessary to avoid the most severe climate impacts, countering Clack’s claim that this transition “dismantles the future.” Instead, a shift to renewable energy sources supports economic stability and environmental health.

References:

https://www.ipcc.ch/2021/08/09/ar6-wg1-20210809-pr/#:~:text=The%20report%20shows%20that%20emissions%20of%20greenhouse,to%20reach%20or%20exceed%201.5%C2%B0C%20of%20warming.

https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/arctic-sea-ice

https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/evidence

https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level#:~:text=Global%20mean%20sea%20level%20has,of%20the%20ocean%20store%20heat.

https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/chapter/chapter-4-sea-level-rise-and-implications-for-low-lying-islands-coasts-and-communities/#:~:text=As%20the%20global%20climate%20changes,%2C%20coastal%20erosion%20and%20salinisation).

https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/climate-change-indicators-reached-record-levels-2023-wmo#:~:text=On%20an%20average%20day%20in,Europe%2C%20according%20to%20preliminary%20data.

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/raising-ambition/renewable-energy#:~:text=1.,new%20jobs%2C%20and%20poverty%20alleviation.