A curated reference of common climate change myths, the scientific facts that counter them, and the reasoning fallacies each myth employs. Based on the Denial101x MOOC developed by the University of Queensland and Skeptical Science.
Each entry below pairs a scientific fact with a common climate myth and identifies the reasoning fallacy that makes the myth misleading. The myth links connect to detailed rebuttals on Skeptical Science, and the video thumbnails link to the corresponding Denial101x lecture on YouTube.
Every fallacy is mapped to one of the three FLICC categories that appear in this collection: Logical Fallacies, Impossible Expectations, or Cherry Picking. Use the filters below to explore by topic section or by FLICC category.
Cook, J. (2015). Denial101x: Making Sense of Climate Science Denial [MOOC]. University of Queensland via edX. https://www.edx.org/learn/climate-change/the-university-of-queensland-making-sense-of-climate-science-denial
Cook, J. (n.d.). Denial101x debunkings: Fact, myth, fallacy. Skeptical Science. https://skepticalscience.com/factmythfallacy.php
Cook, J. (2020). A history of FLICC: The 5 techniques of science denial. Skeptical Science. https://skepticalscience.com/history-FLICC-5-techniques-science-denial.html
Diethelm, P., & McKee, M. (2009). Denialism: What is it and how should scientists respond? European Journal of Public Health, 19(1), 2-4. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckn139
| Section | Myth | Skeptical Science Rebuttal | Denial101x Video |
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This resource was adapted for use in science media literacy professional development by the San Diego Science Project at UC San Diego CREATE. Content from Skeptical Science is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
FLICC taxonomy icons are freely available on Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licensing.