Final answer:
The Earth is indeed closest to the sun in January, which is true. This is due to the elliptical orbit of Earth, with the closest approach occurring during the Northern Hemisphere's winter. However, the seasons are caused by Earth's axial tilt, not by the varying distance from the sun.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Earth is closest to the sun during the month of January is indeed true. The Earth's orbit around the sun is not a perfect circle but an ellipse. This means that there is a point in the orbit, known as perihelion, where the Earth is closest to the sun. The perihelion occurs in early January, around January 3-5, when the distance from the sun is at its minimum.
However, this close proximity to the sun during the Northern Hemisphere's winter contradicts the common misconception that the changing distance between Earth and the sun causes seasons. The real cause of the seasons is the tilt of Earth's axis, which is at 23.5°. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun during June, it experiences summer not because it is closer to the sun but because it receives more direct sunlight. Conversely, in January, even though the Earth is closest to the sun, the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter because it is tilted away from the sun, receiving less direct sunlight.