Climate change has been greatly debated in modern media. Sceptics have long criticised the validity of it, despite the wealth of science-backed evidence which supports the existence of phenomena such as the greenhouse gas effect, and the warming impact that has on climate. Lack of understanding surrounding global climate change has made it easy for politicians and other vocal groups to twist the facts and spread misinformation to support their claims. While there is some truth behind what is being said, science explains the whole reality.

"Climate change is only driven by volcanoes and the sun"

One claim that has been weaponised by Reform UK is that climate change “is driven by the power of the sun or volcanoes”, both of which we as a species are unable to control. While this is somewhat true, in reality it is more complicated.

Volcanoes do release carbon dioxide (CO2) and other polluting gases when they erupt. However, most cause a cooling effect instead, due to the volume of sulfur dioxide (SO2) released. This is because SO2 particles combine with water vapour in the atmosphere, forming molecules which reflect sunlight. For example, the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, one of the largest in recorded history, ejected 20 million tons of SO2 into the atmosphere, cooling the planet by 0.5°C the following year. Some volcanoes that are underwater can cause warming effects as they release water vapour into the stratosphere, where it stays for longer and is far more potent than other greenhouse gases, but these are very rare.

In terms of CO2, the US Geological Survey (USGS) states that volcanoes release between 180 and 440 million tons per year on average. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) found that the average car in the US will produce one metric ton of CO2 every three months. Given that 278.9 million vehicles are registered to drivers in the US according to Forbes, more CO2 is released over a three month period from cars in the US alone, than from volcanoes over a one year period globally.

It is also important to note that many of the most potent greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are synthetic. These include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). These are particularly significant as they stay in the atmosphere the longest and are not broken down or utilised in chemical reactions.

"Carbon dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis"

Reform claimed through their website that “CO2 is essential for photosynthesis to enable plant growth“ this was further backed up by Nigel Farage who said that “the one thing that drives me absolutely potty: when I hear that carbon dioxide is a pollutant” which deflects responsibility for global warming. Photosynthesis is the process where carbon dioxide is converted to oxygen and other nutrients that are needed for plants’ survival. This is part of the Earth’s negative feedback loop to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere; the rate of photosynthesis is decreasing rapidly due to deforestation, especially due to ‘carbon sink’ rainforests such as the Amazon. ‘Carbon sinks’ are given that title due the amount of carbon that is absorbed and stored in the historic trees and systems. Therefore, while CO2 is absorbed by plants, the rate of deforestation means this is not an efficient safety net for polluting the atmosphere.

"We are having cooler summers so there is no warming"

Global warming does not mean that the whole world is getting hotter. While temperatures in the Mediterranean are regularly exceeding 30°C, and sometimes even 40°C, this is not the only consequence. When temperatures were within 1.5°C above pre-industrial times, the climate was considered stable and operated within known bounds which were predictable. However, exceeding this threshold has made the system very unstable. It is similar to the butterfly effect: if you were to go back in time and change one thing, the consequence would be unpredictable, but even a small change can be catastrophic.

"Carbon dioxide only contributes to a small percentage of the atmosphere so it is not important"

Claims that CO2 only makes a small percentage of the atmosphere twist the reality of that statistic and disregard the significant role that it plays in warming our planet. The atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (78 percent of the atmosphere) and oxygen (21 percent), with CO2 only making up 0.04 percent. For context, breathing air with more than 3 percent CO2 can lead to headaches, dizziness, increased heart rate and difficulty breathing. At concentrations exceeding 15 percent, carbon dioxide quickly causes unconsciousness and death, according to the USGS. Also importantly, nitrogen and oxygen are not greenhouse gases due to their diatomic structure, therefore they should not be included when discussing greenhouse gases.