President Trump misrepresented updated UN climate projections, claiming they disprove global warming. The revision of the worst-case scenario reflects progress in clean energy, not a denial of climate risks.
Scientists emphasize that even lower warming projections pose significant dangers. - Trump cited the jettisoned RCP8.5 scenario as proof of alarmism, but it was always a low-probability, high-risk scenario.
- The update was driven by the boom in solar, wind, and battery storage, which flattened carbon emissions. - Scientists warn that even with reduced warming, extreme events and tipping points remain threats.
- Trump's administration previously used a flawed scientific report to justify repealing an EPA endangerment finding, which was later abandoned.