Ice Ages to Disappearing Snow, 29 Climate Predictions That Never Came True

In recent years, a significant number of young people in America, particularly those under 30, have embraced the belief that the world is on the verge of an imminent apocalypse brought about by irreversible global warming. This perception has been fueled, in part, by the presence of a Doomsday Clock in New York City’s Union Square, ticking away the seconds until the supposed point of no return.

The Doomsday Clock, a symbolic representation of the perceived proximity to global catastrophe, has become a powerful visual reminder of the urgency associated with climate change. Its installation coincided with public statements made by lawmakers, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2019, warning that the world has only 12 years left to address climate change before it meets its demise.

While the veracity of the Doomsday Clock’s countdown remains a subject of debate, it is worth examining the track record of bold predictions made by climate experts. These predictions, often centered around specific dates and catastrophic events, have, more often than not, failed to materialize, leading to growing skepticism among the general public.

A closer look at the historical context reveals a series of erroneous forecasts.

1. October 1958: The New York Times predicted that the Arctic ice pack was 40% thinner and 12% less in area compared to half a century ago, claiming that within the lifetime of children, the Arctic Ocean may open for ship navigation. However, data shows that the Arctic ice sheet remains approximately the same thickness since 1958.
2. November 1967: A prediction by biologist Paul Ehrlich stated that global famines would occur by 1975 due to overpopulation. Ehrlich even proposed lacing food and water supplies in the US with sterilization chemicals. These predictions did not materialize.
3. April 1970: The Boston Globe reported on scientists’ prediction of a new Ice Age by the 21st century. The article stated that air pollution could lead to an Ice Age in the first third of the century.
4. July 1971: The Washington Post cited a NASA scientist who predicted a disastrous new Ice Age within 50-60 years, leading to global cooling.
5. December 1972: Two geologists from Brown University wrote a letter to President Nixon, predicting a global deterioration of climate larger than any previously experienced, potentially leading to glacial temperatures within a century. These predictions did not come true.
6. January 1974: The Guardian newspaper reported that space satellites showed a new Ice Age coming fast, citing signs such as thick pack ice around Iceland and the southward migration of warmth-loving creatures.
7. June 1974: Time Magazine published an article titled “Another Ice Age?” highlighting telltale signs of an impending Ice Age, including unexpected persistence and thickness of pack ice and the migration of armadillos.
8. January 1978: The New York Times quoted an international team of specialists who concluded that the cooling trend in the Northern Hemisphere would continue indefinitely. However, subsequent data did not support this claim.
9. February 1979: The New York Times reported a real possibility of catastrophic climate changes by the year 2000, likening it to a nuclear holocaust.
10. September 1988: A report in AFP stated that the Maldives, an island nation, was at risk of being completely submerged by rising sea levels within 30 years. However, the Maldives remains above water and is thriving.
11. June 1989: A United Nations official warned that rising sea levels could wipe out entire nations if global warming was not reversed by the year 2000.
12. March 2000: The Independent published an article stating that snowfall would become a rare event, and children would not know what snow is within a few years. However, snowfall continues to occur in the UK.
13. December 2001: A report in the Albuquerque Journal claimed that the sugar maple industry in New England would be eradicated within 20 years due to climate change. However, the industry remains intact.
14. February 2004: The Guardian exposed a secret Pentagon report predicting climate change leading to nuclear war, major European cities sinking into the ocean, and Britain descending into a Siberian climate by 2020.
15. June 2008: The National Geographic News projected an ice-free Arctic within five to ten years, based on thin first-year ice observed at the North Pole.
16. June 2008: The Associated Press, paraphrasing a NASA scientist, predicted an ice-free Arctic within five to ten years.
17. January 2009: The UK’s Met Office warned that children would no longer experience snow within a generation, which did not come true.
18. December 2009: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a document suggesting that global warming could lead to the disappearance of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains by 2017, but subsequent winters saw significant snowfall.
19. August 2012: The Australian published an article titled “Enjoy Snow Now, By 2020 It’ll Be Gone,” which did not align with the reality of snowfall in Australia.
20. January 2013: The Guardian reported a scientist predicting an ice-free Arctic by 2015, but the Arctic ice remained.
21. June 2013: The BBC projected an ice-free Arctic by 2013, which did not occur.
22. April 2014: The New York Times cited a Harvard University professor stating that the chance of any permanent ice remaining in the Arctic after 2022 was essentially zero, but Arctic ice still exists.
23. August 2017: The Sydney Morning Herald claimed that climate change would upend 76 million American lives by putting an end to snow. However, subsequent winters witnessed substantial snowfall.
24. January 2018: Forbes published an article suggesting that the North Pole could be ice-free by 2020, yet Arctic ice remains.
25. August 2022: Bloomberg reported that the end of snow threatened 76 million American lives, but the following winter saw significant snowfall in many regions.
26. January 2023: Greta Thunberg shared a story on Twitter suggesting that humans would go extinct by 2023 if climate change wasn’t addressed. The tweet was subsequently deleted.
27. Glacier National Park’s sign predicted that all glaciers would be melted away by 2020, but the glaciers remain.
28. December 2021: The LA Times published an article suggesting that a snowless California could become a reality sooner than expected. However, California experienced record snowfall in subsequent seasons.
29. August 2022: Bloomberg reported that the end of snow threatened 76 million American lives, but subsequent winters saw abundant snowfall.

It is important to note that this analysis does not discount the reality of climate change or its potential consequences. Climate change is a complex issue that demands serious attention. However, the continuous issuance of specific, alarmist predictions with inaccurate timelines has hindered public confidence in the scientific community’s credibility.

To address this credibility gap, climate experts and communicators need to adopt a more measured and evidence-based approach. Presenting data, research findings, and potential outcomes without sensationalism can help rebuild trust and engage the public in meaningful discussions about climate change.

As individuals, it is crucial to critically examine the available data and research, considering both the long-term trends and the limitations of specific predictions. Only through informed and rational dialogue can we navigate the challenges posed by climate change and work towards sustainable solutions.

In the pursuit of a better future, it is imperative that the public and scientific community foster a climate of open-mindedness, evidence-based analysis, and honest discourse to address the urgent global issue of climate change.