Global Warming Has Accelerated: Are the United Nations and the Public Well-Informed?
Overview
Paper Summary
This study claims that reducing ship sulfur emissions unexpectedly accelerated global warming by reducing the cooling effect of aerosols, a "Faustian bargain." However, the analysis relies on correlating decreased ship emissions with a warming trend, assuming causation without sufficiently controlling for other factors. The paper's ship aerosol forcing estimation also contradicts several other studies that found much smaller effects.
Explain Like I'm Five
Cutting pollution from ships made global warming worse, kind of like a deal with the devil. We need to find better ways to fight climate change and stop making it worse.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
The first author is Director of the Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions Program, which advocates for certain climate policies, and receives 100% of funding via public donations.
Identified Limitations
Rating Explanation
The paper presents an interesting hypothesis about the effects of reducing ship emissions. However, the over-reliance on correlation as causation, disagreement with established aerosol forcing estimations, lack of consideration of other contributing factors, and funding via donations warrant a low rating due to methodological weaknesses and potential bias.
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