Veteran meteorologist Glen Schwartz used a TikTok video to debunk the persistent 1970s "Ice Age" myth, noting that about 60% of studies then predicted warming from greenhouse gases. He explains that popular media and a few non‑scientific books amplified a cooling narrative despite the research. Schwartz also highlights that burning fossil fuels not only drives warming but worsens air quality, and he urges viewers to check original sources before accepting sensational headlines.
‘Ice Age’ Myth Busted: Veteran Meteorologist Shows 1970s Research Predicted Warming
Glen Schwartz, a meteorologist with 50 years of experience, used a short TikTok video to challenge a persistent misconception: that climate scientists in the 1970s were broadly predicting an imminent "Ice Age."
Schwartz notes that, according to reviews of the scientific literature from that decade, roughly 60% of climate studies pointed toward future warming driven by the greenhouse effect and rising carbon dioxide levels. He cautions that this nuance is often lost in popular retellings.
While some mainstream media stories and a handful of popular books amplified claims of global cooling, Schwartz points out that two widely read titles from the era—The Cooling and The Weather Machine—were authored by journalists rather than climate scientists and helped spread a misleading narrative.
"They said there was going to be an ice age coming," Schwartz says in the video. "No, that's a myth."
Modern climate science continues to show that burning fossil fuels releases heat‑trapping greenhouse gases that drive long‑term global warming. Schwartz also highlights the immediate public‑health harms of fossil fuel combustion: air pollution from nonrenewable fuels degrades air quality and contributes to respiratory and cardiovascular disease, a link emphasized by the World Health Organization.
Transitioning to cleaner energy sources such as wind and solar can cut pollutant emissions, reduce health risks, and help limit future temperature rise. Schwartz frames his short public service message as a reminder to verify sources and examine original research rather than rely on catchy headlines.
The TikTok video drew supportive comments from viewers who appreciated the historical correction and discussed how media coverage can distort scientific consensus.
Takeaway: Popular coverage in the 1970s sometimes overstated cooling concerns, but the scientific literature at the time more often pointed toward warming — and today's evidence clearly links fossil fuels to both warming and harmful air pollution.
