realistic climate change approach. ?

[joneill1186]

I couldnt tell you if global warming is man made. Like many people I have not done studies probing earths atmosphere for man made gases and then taken a look at how this may cause a change in climate. People need to take a look at a crapload of data that even 100 years couldnt explain. Because of the lifespan of the earth, to show true correlation, you would need to do a study that focused on maybe hundrends of thousands of years to really prove man has done much of anything to the earth. Im taking a practical look at this whole global warming nonsense and have come to the conclusion that it shouldnt be rammed down peoples throats, it should be encouraged, but not forced (IE Echeck, taxes on plastic bags, cars which must meet fuel mandates). I use plastic bags when i go to the grocery store, but i also reuse them at home for a variety of things. I try my best not to drive to the store that is a 5 minute walk if im just getting milk. Humans should be concerned about the environment, but when people tell me how to live my life on something there is not enough evidence to support, thats when i get pissed off. You can have an opinion one way or another, but dont infringe on my rights because of your opinion.
Now I ask 2 questions after my explanation. What do you feel about my stance on the global warming issue, and also what is your stance on it. Remember mine is that Im not sure if global warming is man made or not, i believe theres not enough evidence. I also think people have a right to their opinion as long as it doesnt infringe on my rights
ugh sorry by nonsense i didnt mean the idea of global warming. i mean like some of the stuff people do IE carbon offsetters

 

[icarus62]

It's an indisputable fact that atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased substantially -

"The global atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased from a pre-industrial value of about 280 ppm to 379 ppm3 in 2005. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide in 2005 exceeds by far the natural range over the last 650,000 years (180 to 300 ppm) as determined from ice cores." (IPCC)

Even if you don't accept human activity as the *reason* for that growth, the *effect* will be the same - major climate change, crop failure, sea level rise, mass human migration, a decimation of the human population. It makes sense to do something about it. In a sense though, you're right - just a change of your lifestyle can't in itself do a lot of good. It's too late for that. Only governments can do anything big enough to make a difference. But they probably won't.

As far as the evidence goes:

Climatologists have been constructing computer models of the climate and all known influences upon it for decades. Naturally they have improved as we have more and better data, especially from satellite observations. The best models now match reality pretty well - in other words, if you put in all the data about how the Earth's orbit changes, how the sun's activity varies with time, how volcanic activity affects the opacity of the atmosphere and so on, what the model predicts the climate *should* be, under those conditions, closely matches what is actually *measured* in terms of temperature, rainfall etc.

However... for the last 50 or 60 years or so, the models *only* match reality if you factor in *human* influences - the carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere from industry and so on. If you leave out the human factors then the models substantially diverge from reality. This indicates that the models are accurate, and that human factors really are having a significant impact on the climate.

 

[Cody]

your correct the earth has had a stead change in climate
the idea of people offsetting carbon is liable however there is only about 3% carbon in the automorphism anyway
methane is a bigger problem anyway

 

[elmo_stephens]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKTRE50I4G520090119 look,worry.for accurate comparison there would have to be measurement of climate before the industrial reveloution(1830) and since thhere is none then we take ice core samples and since it is all disappearing shouldn't that tell you something, there called hydrocarbons google it,learn.

 

[liberal_60]

Everyone always has a right to have their own opinion. The questions are more about what actions they are permitted or required to take, instead of opinions.

The problem with relying upon voluntary action is that some people tend to take harmful actions based on short term views and some people can be deceived and into taking harmful actions based on incorrect information. Also see the idea of the "tragedy of the commons." -- link below

So for example, in the past, many people and companies dumped toxic waste into rivers and streams. Voluntary goodwill was not enough to prevent them from polluting the water, so we needed laws.

Similarly, we also need laws to prevent people from contributing to global warming.