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Misinformation on Heatwaves Fuels Harassment of Climate Scientists
Climate scientists say heatwave misinformation is fuelling online harassment
Image: Euronews
Recent heatwaves in Europe have sparked misinformation online, leading to harassment of climate scientists. Claims that historic heatwaves negate current trends are misleading, according to experts. This hostility is increasingly directed at researchers, particularly women, as misinformation about climate change persists.
- 01Claims that past heatwaves invalidate current temperatures are misleading, as modern heat events are more frequent and severe due to climate change.
- 02Sonia Seneviratne, a climate scientist, has faced significant online harassment linked to her work, highlighting the personal toll of misinformation.
- 03The urban heat island effect is often misrepresented to challenge the reliability of temperature records, which are well-documented and validated by multiple scientific groups.
- 04Zeke Hausfather noted that while he has faced harassment, many female colleagues have experienced more severe abuse.
- 05Misinformation surrounding climate change has evolved, shifting from denying warming to questioning its consequences and related policies.
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A recent heatwave across Europe has led to a surge of misinformation online, with claims that historic heatwaves invalidate current temperature records. Climate scientists, including Sonia Seneviratne from ETH Zurich, report experiencing harassment linked to these false narratives. Seneviratne noted that social media has amplified hostility, particularly against women in the field. Other experts, like Zeke Hausfather, have also faced verbal abuse, indicating a troubling trend of online harassment directed at climate researchers. The misinformation often revolves around the urban heat island effect, which is misused to question the reliability of temperature records. However, scientists confirm that global temperature records are robust and validated by multiple independent groups. Bart Verheggen, a senior climate advisor, emphasized that misinformation plays a significant role in public discourse on climate change, with denial tactics evolving over time. This environment of hostility and misinformation poses challenges for climate scientists as they strive to communicate the realities of climate change.
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The ongoing harassment of climate scientists can deter research and public engagement on climate issues.
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