Global Warming

[Al Agnew]

Come on, guys, global warming is...simply...warming climate. It's the CAUSE of it that is the crux of the matter. Does the earth's climate go through warming and cooling periods? Sure. Can they be the result of natural causes? Of course.

BUT...two things. One, the possible difference between present conditions and past warming is in the RATE of warming. Gradual climate change, such as could be caused by changes in the earth's rotation or other prehistoric causes, apparently happened gradually enough that most of the ecosystems could adjust to it. Present warming is apparently happening at a much faster rate, too fast for plants to cope. Trees just can't pick up and move to a climate that suits them.

Two, we know that carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were high during past episodes of global warming. Obviously, human sources of CO2 couldn't have been the culprit then. But, we can find no significant NATURAL increases in CO2 and other greenhouse gases at present, yet CO2 is 30 some odd percent higher now than it was at the beginning of the industrial revolution, and climbing. Hmm. The planet is warming. There is much more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Human activity is causing more greenhouse gases to be put in the atmosphere.

And please stop pointing to any one day, one week, one month, or one year as proof for or against a warming climate. It's the trends that are the key. We had a miserable February. We also had an extremely WARM January. The year could still turn out to be ANOTHER record or near record warm one, as something like 10 out of the last 12 have been.

If you cannot trust the VAST majority of scientists in relevant fields, (not ones in fields like physics and economics) who are convinced by the evidence that human induced global warming is real and dangerous, then why have any trust in science at all. Just make all policy decisions purely on politics and economics (which is pretty much what we're doing now).

[jdmidwest]

Science is just one man's theory of what is going on...

Except, maybe entomology!

[Terry Beeson]

Global Warming - Schlobal Schwarming... The bottom line is ths - We (people in general) are screwing up the planet. And I point the finger at myself as much as at anyone. Global Warming - Fact or Fiction... Who cares? We need to stop doing the stupid stuff we do and try to focus on the coming years and generations instead of five minutes from now.

[RiverRunner]

The problem our society has is an "attitude problem". Nobody wants to give up anything for a greater good it seems like. A customer of mine was telling me about his neighbors, who were clearcutting all of the Oak and Hickory on their land so that they could sell the timber to a sawmill. When my customer asked them why they didn't leave some trees for their children and grandchildren, they said "I'll be dead and I don't give a s&@! what happens once I'm gone"

To think that we (humans) are not having an effect on the environment is foolish. All one has to do is look at the pollution coming from developing nations such as China & India. If the stuff that they are putting in the air & water is not having an effect, then I don't know what will. Their is just too much science that comes to the same conclusion, we are having an effect on the environment. The long term trends point to this as well. Just because some politician that some people do not like is attached to the issue does not mean that the issue is moot. I think that this issue should be above politics. God gave us this planet to protect and take care of for everyone. Its the only one we've got to live on. We need to take care of it.

[Don]

"The report on climate change said that humans are very likely making the planet warmer. To which Hillary Clinton said, 'Hey, can't blame me for that one.'" --Jay Leno

[Rusty]

"The report on climate change said that humans are very likely making the planet warmer. To which Hillary Clinton said, 'Hey, can't blame me for that one.'" --Jay Leno

And my first question was...What universe is she from?

[jdmidwest]

Arkansaw is its own little world...... I said that in my best southern hick accent!

[Terry Beeson]

Just a bit of FYI, JD... Hillary is from Chicago... and now lives in New York... Bill is the Arkie.

But to that end, Chicago is "its own little world" too.

[Wayne SW/MO]

we can find no significant NATURAL increases in CO2 and other greenhouse gases at present,

I don't see how the devastation of the forest can't be having a significant effect. We hear about the Rain forest, but nothing of the encroachment by agriculture and suburban sprawl. We have long been one of the societies that cuts trees and then names the streets after them, while planting a scraggly replacement to mitigate damages.

The concept that the rich can buy a carbon offset in order to avoid sacrifice isn't likely to get cooperation from the masses anytime soon either.

There is simply too much disparity between the emerging third world and the historical industrial countries to think that any cure will be worldwide and easy.