04-07-2025
Fact Check: Satirical fiery weather map repurposed to doubt climate change
A screenshot of a German weather broadcast altered to satirically show fiery colours has been shared online with the false suggestion it presents evidence that climate change is a hoax and its effects are being exaggerated.
'If you think climate propaganda is strong in the UK... check out the fiery inferno hell shown on German TV. Climate change is a scam,' said a July 1 Facebook post, opens new tab sharing the screenshot, which had a logo apparently indicating the fiery colours had been broadcast on German news programme Tagesthemen. A similar post on X received more than 2 million views, opens new tab.
The comments underneath the Facebook post suggest some had taken it as being genuine.
'They may con the youngsters but us elderly know better,' said one comment, opens new tab under the post.
However, a spokesperson for Tagesthemen said in an email the screenshot was fake and that it had not broadcast a lava-like map.
The image is consistent, opens new tab with the June 28 broadcast, opens new tab of Tagesthemen - in terms of the presenter, his clothes and the temperatures displayed on the map - indicating the screenshot was taken from this programme and then altered.
The X account that first published, opens new tab the screenshot, responding to a Reuters request for comment, said, opens new tab the image was satirical. He added that it's a variation of a long-running joke on German social media, pointing to another altered Tagesthemen broadcast posted two years earlier, opens new tab.
Satire. The account that posted the image says it is satire. A spokesperson for German news programme Tagesthemen said the image was fake and that it had not broadcast the lava-like map.
This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work.
