Cheating on Climate Change: How Countries Manipulate the Math

📈Countries manipulate their carbon release and carbon absorption numbers to make it seem like they are performing better in the fight against climate change.

🌍Cheating on climate change math not only undermines progress tracking but also jeopardizes our collective goal of mitigating climate change.

🔍Climate scientists use satellite data to uncover discrepancies between reported numbers and the actual amount of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere.

📉Some countries deflate their carbon release numbers by excluding significant sources of carbon emissions, such as flaring during oil production.

🌳Certain countries artificially inflate their carbon absorption by falsely claiming that their forests absorb carbon at a much faster rate than neighboring countries.

Why do countries manipulate their carbon release and absorption numbers?

—Countries manipulate these numbers to create the illusion of progress in the fight against climate change, while avoiding accountability for their actual carbon emissions.

How do climate scientists uncover the manipulation of carbon numbers?

—Climate scientists use satellite data and advanced analysis methods to detect discrepancies between reported numbers and the actual carbon emissions.

What are some examples of cheating on climate change math?

—Examples include not counting carbon emissions from oil production flaring, falsely claiming faster carbon absorption rates in forests, and excluding carbon emissions from large-scale wildfires.

Why is it important to accurately track carbon release and absorption?

—Accurate tracking allows us to assess progress in addressing climate change, identify areas for improvement, and work towards our collective goal of reducing carbon emissions.

What are the consequences of manipulating carbon numbers?

—Manipulating carbon numbers undermines the credibility of climate change efforts, hinders international cooperation, and prolongs the time it takes to effectively address the climate crisis.

00:00Countries cheat on the math of climate change to make it seem like they are performing better in carbon reduction.

00:23Solving climate change is essentially a math problem: carbon released minus carbon absorbed equals total atmospheric carbon.

01:12Countries manipulate carbon release numbers by excluding significant sources, such as flaring during oil production.

01:37Some countries falsely inflate their carbon absorption numbers, misleadingly claiming faster rates than neighboring countries.

02:23Canada manipulates carbon reporting by excluding carbon emissions from wildfires but taking credit for carbon absorbed by unlogged forests.