Fact Check: NASA didn’t make this statement on human-made climate change, viral post is a fake

New Delhi (Vishvas News): An image doing rounds on Instagram asserts that “NASA admits that man-made climate change is a hoax!” The post further claims that: “In 1958, NASA first observed that changes in the solar orbit of the earth, along with alterations to earth’s axial tilt, are both responsible for what climate scientists call ‘global warming.’ In no way, shape or form are humans warming the planet by using fossil fuels or eating beef.” Vishvas News investigated and found that NASA did not make any such claim and hence, the viral post is fake.

Claim

A post shared on Instagram reads: “NASA admits that man-made climate change is a hoax! In 1958, NASA first observed that changes in the solar orbit of the earth, along with alterations to the earth’s axial tilt, are both responsible for what climate scientists call ‘global warming.’ In no way, shape or form are humans warming the planet by using fossil fuels or eating beef.”

The archived version of the post can be checked here.

Investigation

Vishvas News started its investigation by looking for the reports on Climate change by NASA. According to a report by NASA, the climate of the earth has changed throughout history. Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt end of the last ice age about 11,700 years ago marking the beginning of the modern climate era — and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives.”

“The current warming trend is of particular significance because it is unequivocally the result of human activity since the mid-20th century and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented over millennia. It is undeniable that human activities have warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land and that widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and biosphere have occurred,” the report added.

NASA stated in its report: “Direct observations made on and above Earth’s surface show the planet’s climate is significantly changing. Human activities are the primary driver of those changes.”

Vishvas News contacted NASA regarding the viral claim. NASA Ames Public Inquiries stated that the viral post is a fake news report and NASA did not make any such statement.

The post is shared on Instagram by a user named David Schell. When Vishvas News scanned the profile of the user we found that the user has 6511 followers till the fact check was published.