Satellite measurements since the 1970s show the sun’s output has not increased, so it cannot explain the rapid rise in global temperatures. A TikTok video from Planetary_Connections emphasizes this point: “The sun has an alibi. The fingerprints point to us.” The article explains that human activities — burning fossil fuels, deforestation and some agricultural practices — are the main drivers of modern warming, and urges action to cut heat-trapping emissions.
Expert: Satellites Show the Sun Isn’t Driving Modern Global Warming — “The Fingerprints Point to Us”
Satellite measurements since the 1970s show the sun’s output has not increased, so it cannot explain the rapid rise in global temperatures. A TikTok video from Planetary_Connections emphasizes this point: “The sun has an alibi. The fingerprints point to us.” The article explains that human activities — burning fossil fuels, deforestation and some agricultural practices — are the main drivers of modern warming, and urges action to cut heat-trapping emissions.
23:52, 09.11.2025Environment
Sunlight Isn’t to Blame for Recent Warming, Experts Say
It’s true the sun warms Earth: when solar output is higher the planet tends to be warmer, and when solar output falls the planet cools. But multiple lines of evidence show the sun is not responsible for the rapid warming we’ve seen in recent decades.
Satellites have been measuring the sun’s total energy output (total solar irradiance) since the late 1970s. Those records show that, if anything, solar output has trended slightly down over that period — while global temperatures have continued to rise.
TikTok creator Planetary_Connections (@talk_hotter_to_me) summarized this point in a short video, closing with a clear message:
“If the sun were in charge, Earth should be cooling. Instead, global temperatures keep climbing […] The sun has an alibi. The fingerprints point to us.”
The primary driver of modern warming is human activity that releases heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Major contributors include:
- Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas)
- Deforestation and land-use change
- Some agricultural practices and industrial processes that emit methane, nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gases
While the sun does influence Earth’s climate on shorter (roughly 11-year) solar cycles, and orbital changes (Milankovitch cycles) affect climate over tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years, these natural variations cannot explain the rapid warming observed since the mid-20th century.
Bottom line: Observations and measurements point to human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions as the dominant explanation for recent global warming. That means reducing emissions — through cleaner energy, protecting forests and changing some agricultural practices — is central to slowing further warming.