Odd or Laughable Climate Claims Often Pointed Out

Written by Dr Peter Ridd on July 6, 2025. Posted in Current News

There have indeed been some eyebrow-raising or even laughable-sounding claims made in the broader discourse around climate change, often highlighted by skeptics as examples of “climate alarmism.” The video below reveals the craziness.

Dr Peter Ridd has been researching the Great Barrier Reef and other things since 1984, has invented a range of advanced scientific instrumentation, and written over 100 scientific publications. Since being fired by James Cook University for raising concerns about science quality assurance issues, Peter Ridd receives no payment for any of the work he does.

Odd or Laughable Climate Claims Often Pointed Out:

1. Divorcing Albatrosses
   A 2021 study suggested that warming oceans were leading to more frequent breakups (or “divorces”) among albatross pairs due to stress and reduced food availability. While rooted in behavioral ecology, critics found the anthropomorphic framing laughable.

2. Pink Lakes Caused by Climate Change
   Some lakes turning pink or red due to algae blooms have been linked in media to climate change, but such phenomena can also occur naturally with high salinity and bacteria—not always a direct result of global warming.

3. Goats Shrinking Due to Climate Change
   A 2014 study on Soay sheep suggested that warmer temperatures led to smaller average body sizes. Critics mocked it as a stretch of cause-and-effect. While biologically plausible (climate influences body size evolution), it was seen as grasping.

4. Less Snow Means Kids Won’t Know What Snow Is
   A now-infamous 2000 article in The Independent claimed that within a few years, British children would never see snow again due to global warming. Heavy snowfalls since have made it a go-to example of poor climate predictions.

5. Climate Change Causing More Rape or Violence
   Some researchers and articles have attempted to link rising temperatures or natural disasters with increases in violent crime or sexual assault rates. Even if statistical correlations exist, such claims are extremely controversial and often poorly communicated.

6. Coffee, Chocolate, and Beer Will Disappear
   Media has frequently declared that climate change could end our access to chocolate, wine, coffee, or beer. While climate does affect agriculture, the claims are often sensationalized and neglect adaptability or mitigation strategies.

7. The Maldives Will Be Gone by 2018
   A 1988 UN prediction said the Maldives could be underwater within 30 years. By 2018, the islands were still above sea level, even building more infrastructure. While sea level rise remains a threat, the timeline was overly pessimistic.

8. Snowy Owl Sightings in the U.S. Tied to Climate
   When snowy owls were spotted far south in the U.S., some reports blamed climate change. However, it turned out to be a natural population boom and migration cycle.

9. Polar Bears Falling from the Sky (or Dying in Droves)
   A 2006 documentary and some viral images suggested polar bears were rapidly dying due to melting ice. While polar bear populations do face long-term habitat pressure, current numbers in many regions are stable or growing, complicating the narrative.

10. Octopus and Squid Will Take Over the Oceans
    A paper suggested that warming oceans might favor fast-breeding cephalopods like squid and octopus. While interesting, it was headlined as a squid “takeover,” drawing ridicule.

Source: www.youtube.com

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