You care about the environment. And as a citizen of the world, you know how important it is to stay informed about climate change. But when push comes to shove, how much do you really know?
Are you basically an amateur climate scientist and the fact-checker of your friend group? Or do you have more studying to do? Tell us which claims are real and which ones are phony, and in return, we’ll tell you just how knowledgeable you are. To discover whether you can spot the false climate claims, click “Start Quiz” now.
Questions Overview
1. Renewable energy comes straight from natural elements that you experience every day, like the sun, ocean, and wind around you. Right now, we use energy like gas and oil to run cars, warm homes, and turn on the lights. But by 2050, experts say that we’ll be able to transition fully to renewable energy!
- True
- False
2. If the Earth were positioned somewhere else in the universe, all of the people, plants, and animals could still live here safely.
- True
- False
3. As the climate continues to change, certain animal populations could face extinction. For example, did you know that sand temperatures affect sea turtle eggs? As the climate warms, more female eggs will be laid than male eggs—which will threaten the world’s sea turtle populations.
- True
- False
4. I haven’t noticed any major weather changes happening in my area, so climate change must not be too bad.
- True
- False
5. Carbon dioxide is one of the main gas emissions that’s making Earth too hot. But luckily, trees can suck up and store carbon dioxide, which keeps it from being released into the air. That’s why planting trees is so good for the climate—trees are like nature’s superheroes!
- True
- False
6. As temperatures increase, ice caps are melting in the Northern Hemisphere. That’s a big problem—because ice caps reflect the sun’s rays and help keep the planet cool.
- True
- False
7. Many living creatures play a big role in the fight against climate change. Did you know that there’s a tiny ocean organism called phytoplankton that can transform carbon dioxide into energy? This process helps keep the planet cool. Amazing!
- True
- False
8. Coral reefs are made up of beautiful colors, and they’re important to 25% of all fish species (even though they take up just 1% of the ocean!). But coral reefs have a hard time surviving in warmer water temperatures created by climate change.
- True
- False
9. Climate change will make heat-related disasters, like drought, worse. But luckily, weather events like hurricanes, tornados, and floods won't be an issue.
- True
- False
10. If you don’t work for the government or in another powerful job, there isn't anything you can do to fight climate change. Especially if you’re still a kid!
- True
- False
More Quizzes
10 Climate Change Facts: Unpacked
Below, we're walking you through the 10 true climate facts we covered in this quiz. For more information on the climate and climate change, check out our source list at the bottom of the page.
- Renewable energy comes straight from natural elements that you experience every day, like the sun, ocean, and wind around you. Right now, we use energy like gas and oil to run cars, warm homes, and turn on the lights. But by 2050, experts say that we’ll be able to transition fully to renewable energy! 26 years from now, your home is likely to be powered by wind turbines or solar panels.
- If Earth were any closer to Venus, it would be too hot to live here. Any closer to Mars, and it would be too chilly. Scientists call Earth’s location the “Goldilocks Zone” because its temperature is just right for life. And we all rely on it staying that way—that’s why fighting climate change is so important!
- As the climate continues to change, certain animal populations could face extinction. For example, did you know that sand temperatures affect sea turtle eggs? As the climate warms, more female eggs will be laid than male eggs—which will threaten the world’s sea turtle populations. Many other animals will be vulnerable too, like polar bears, gorillas, elephants, and pandas. The world needs to focus on climate solutions not just for human’s sake, but animals as well.
- Climate and weather are different—weather refers to short-term changes, while climate is all about the long term. So while you might not notice obvious weather changes yet, over time, we’ll all notice changes in the climate. Climate change is happening!
- Carbon dioxide is one of the main gas emissions that’s making Earth too hot. But luckily, trees can suck up and store carbon dioxide, which keeps it from being released into the air. That’s why planting trees is so good for the climate—trees are like nature’s superheroes! And that’s why deforestation (or, cutting down trees) hurts the climate. But on the flip side, when you plant a tree, you’re helping to fight climate change!
- As temperatures increase, ice caps are melting in the Northern Hemisphere, and that’s a big problem. Did you know that bright white ice caps reflect the sun’s energy back to space? So the more ice caps melt, the warmer our climate will be. Plus, melting ice caps will cause sea levels to rise too!
- Many living creatures play a big role in the fight against climate change. Did you know that there’s a tiny ocean organism called phytoplankton that can transform carbon dioxide into energy? This process helps keep the planet cool. Amazing! And there’s more: Phytoplankton actually eat whale poop, so in a way, whales do their part to save the planet, too. It sounds gross, but both phytoplankton and whales help the climate every day!
- Coral reefs are made up of beautiful colors, and they’re important to 25% of all fish species (even though they take up just 1% of the ocean!). But coral reefs have a hard time surviving in warmer water temperatures created by climate change. It’s sad that coral reefs are struggling, but there are so many things you can do to help. For example, if you live by the coast, why not volunteer or donate to organizations working on coral restoration projects, such as coral farming and transplantation efforts.?
- Climate is complicated—and as the Earth warms, every natural hazard will be affected in some way. For example, warmer ocean waters will make storms (like hurricanes) more intense.
- There are so many things each of us can do (kids included!) to help fight climate change, like eating veggies, saving energy, using mass transit and carpooling, and looking for systemic actions to help fight climate change.
Want to learn more?
For more information about the climate and climate change, check out our list of authoritative source below.
- https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/raising-ambition/renewable-energy
- https://evolution.berkeley.edu/a-place-for-life/habitability/the-habitable-zone/
- https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/hooklinescience/is-climate-change-affecting-baby-sea-turtles/
- https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/global/climate-vs-weather
- https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/forests-and-climate-change
- https://climate.nasa.gov/explore/ask-nasa-climate/2594/sun-and-sky-snow-and-ice/
- https://climate.mit.edu/explainers/phytoplankton
- https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/coral-reef-ecosystems
- https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-can-climate-change-affect-natural-disasters
- https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/how-to-reduce-climate-change/
Reader Success Stories
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"Climate change is a big issue for our future. The quiz is awesome to understand, finding out how much we individuals know the facts and how we can help individually to reduce CO2."..." more
