False claim 'climate crisis hoax' statement signed by thousands of scientists | Fact check

Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY
Updated ·4 min read
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The claim: Thousands of scientists sign 'climate crisis hoax' document

A Sept. 14 article (direct link, archive link) circulating on Facebook claims a large group of scientists downplayed the dangers of climate change in a signed declaration.

"Thousands of Scientists Unite to Expose ‘Climate Crisis’ Hoax," reads the headline of the article, which was published on the website News Addicts.

The article was shared more than 400 times in six weeks on Facebook, according to Crowdtangle, a social media analytics tool.

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Our rating: False

Thousands of scientists did not sign the document referenced in the article. The document lists only around 1,600 purported signatories, the vast majority of whom have no listed expertise in climate science. Hundreds of the purported signatories are not listed as being scientists of any kind, according to a USA TODAY count.

'Declaration' signed by engineers, medical workers and wine steward

While the article's headline references "thousands of scientists," the article's text states that only 1,609 scientists "gathered together to sign a declaration, proclaiming that 'there is no climate emergency.'"

The document, published by the Global Climate Intelligence Group in August, describes the purported signatories as "scientists and professionals," not just "scientists." USA TODAY found hundreds of examples of listed signatories that were not described as scientists − including engineers, medical workers, psychologists, lawyers, architects, philosophers, teachers and information technology and business professionals.

The intelligence group did not respond to USA TODAY questions about the number of scientists and climate and atmospheric scientists, specifically, who signed the document.

USA TODAY found around 100 purported signatories listed as having college degrees in the fields of climate science, climatology, meteorology, paleoclimatology, environmental science, atmospheric science or atmospheric physics or as being scientists in those fields.

More than a dozen additional signatories were listed as "climate researchers." Many of these individuals were also listed as retired from other, unrelated professions or were listed as "independent."

Other signatories listed credentials far outside climate science. Titles listed include:

  • Senior ship designer

  • Financial advice specialist

  • Leadership development and coaching

  • Sculptor, designer and innovator

  • Commercial fisherman

  • Airline pilot

  • Sommelier

  • Historical linguist

  • Lifetime explorer of truth

  • IT professional

  • PhD in mental health

AFP analyzed a version of the document last year, when it had around 1,200 purported signatories. At that time, six of the listed individuals were deceased, AFP reported.

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Reality of climate change supported by thousands of peer-reviewed papers

Modern global warming − which is causing polar ice melt, sea level rise, and increased heat wave frequency − has been documented by multiple independent research organizations. The warming is caused by an increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations due to human behavior.

These facts are supported by the 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, which investigated and outlined the most contemporary climate and climate change science available.

"It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land," reads the report. "Human-induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe. Evidence of observed changes in extremes such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts and tropical cyclones, and, in particular, their attribution to human influence, has strengthened."

The report cites nearly 13,000 peer-reviewed papers as well as hundreds of technical reports and books, according to a 2023 analysis from the climate change panel. Taken collectively, these citations include the work of around 39,000 unique authors, Sarah Connors, who co-authored the analysis and now works for the European Space Agency, told USA TODAY.

Most of the citations − more than 9,000 − are from the fields of earth and planetary science (which include climate science and atmospheric science disciplines) and environmental science. The rest are related to agricultural science, biological science, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, energy, the social sciences and medicine, are considered "multidisciplinary" or are undefined by the analysis.

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USA TODAY reached out News Addicts for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

The claim was also debunked by PolitiFact and Climate Feedback

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Most climate change hoax signatories not experts| Fact check