John Coleman`s Misleading Statements About Climate Change 

It is widely acknowledged that we are undergoing significant and unprecedented transformations in our natural environment due to the effects of global climate change. Nevertheless, there exists a subset of individuals who reject the existence of this prevailing global climate change phenomenon. It is disheartening to observe figures such as John Coleman, associated with science communication, disseminating inaccurate information regarding climate change and actively denying its occurrence. In this context, we have investigated John Coleman’s recent contentious perspectives concerning climate change.

Social Media Posts 

An Instagram post dated June 30, 2023, by the page of @atlassociety has shared a video in that John Coleman, a meteorologist, and co-founder of The Weather Channel, is shown making claims about climate change and government funding for climate research. This Instagram video has garnered significant attention by claiming the absence of scientific facts supporting climate change and human-caused global warming. Also, the video suggests that there was no global warming in the past and questions the logic behind expecting any future global warming.

Instagram| Archived 

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check 

Claim 1: “Climate change is not happening. There is no significant man-made global warming now.”

Fact Check: This claim contradicts the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists that the Earth’s climate is warming due to human activities. Multiple reputable scientific organizations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), have presented extensive evidence demonstrating the reality of global warming. 

Read more; IPCC — Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (2014) states that it is highly likely that more than half of the observed increase in global average surface temperature from 1951 to 2010 was caused by human influence. 

Moreover, it claims that there is no global warming. This claim contradicts a vast body of scientific research that has consistently shown a warming trend in global temperatures over the past century. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other institutions maintain long-term temperature records demonstrating a clear warming trend. 

Also, historical data, ice core samples, and other sources indicate periods of warming and cooling over Earth’s history. However, recent warming trends align with human activities and significantly increase of greenhouse gas concentrations.

Read more; Global Temperature | Vital Signs – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet (nasa.gov)

In addition, the video suggests that there was no global warming in the past and that there is no logical reason to expect any in the future misrepresents the scientific understanding of Earth’s climate history and future projections. 

Claim 2: “The government puts out dollars directly for climate research annually. It only gives that money to scientists to produce scientific results to support the global warming hypothesis of the Democratic party or position.”

Fact Check: This claim oversimplifies the nature of government funding for climate research and inaccurately portrays it as politically biased. Money’s influence can lead to narrow viewpoints, implying that financial interests could sway scientific conclusions.

Government funding for climate research is typically allocated through various agencies. Funding decisions are subject to rigorous peer review and scientific merit. Research studies funded by government agencies aim to advance scientific understanding rather than promote specific political agendas.

It’s important to note that while John Stewart Coleman was a respected figure in meteorology, his views on climate change contradicted the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists and the extensive body of research supporting the reality of human-caused climate change.

Before this, we also published an article about why climate change is not a scam; it can be read below.

Read more: Exploring Climate Change Skepticism: Why Climate Change Is Not A Scam?

Conclusion:

Based on the available evidence, John Coleman’s claims regarding climate change and government funding for climate research must be accurate. Contrary to the video’s assertions, there is a solid scientific consensus that climate change is real and predominantly caused by human activities. 

Climate scientists worldwide have conducted extensive research, analyzed data, and reached a general agreement on this issue. Observational data reveals rising global temperatures, retreating glaciers, shrinking ice sheets, and increasing sea levels, all indicative of ongoing climate change. When accounting for human influence, climate models accurately predict observed changes and future scenarios. When assessing climate-related information, relying on authoritative scientific sources and experts is crucial.

If you have any queries or come across suspicious content related to climate change or the environment and want us to verify them for you, then send them to us on our WhatsApp hotline: +917045366366

-With inputs from Nuwandhara Mudalige –