Do you think its someone else's problem to worry about Global Warming and Climate Change?

Question

Alarmingly the USA is the largest net polluter on the planet but deforestation in less developed countries has a high impact as well. Don't care about this subject?? Then go to www.climatecrisis.org and look: You do care? Then also visit the site ... do you want to change the effects of global warming?

Answer 1

Why would you worry about. Are you going to change anything by worrying. No. The only thing you will accomplish is living a shorter stressed out life and cause your great grandchildren to wonder why you and so many of your generation were so guilt ridden and paranoid. I am sure you will not agree till you actually have great grand children, but I will wait and check back in a few decades.

Answer 2

I believe that it is of the up most importance that world governments immediately change their policies on environment pollution, particularly that of greenhouse gases. Even though nature has shown to be extremely unpredictable throughout the millions of years, as a scientist, I have to state the clear evidence of this unprecedented destruction. It seems that our beautiful planet is at the hands of bureaucrats who seem more interested in quibbling over tax and oil stocks (not that these aren't important of course) than securing Earth's environmental stability for our future generations.

The signs are staring us in the face everyday yet it seems the average citizen could not care less. It annoys me daily that people can be so ignorant to the issues of the planet and instead be more interested in what clothes they will buy, where they will go that night or who is the best looking person in the bar!

I'm generalising of course, but if im honest (and I don't think many people like to be on this issue) people would rather turn a blind eye because they are too absorbed in their personal issues or within the everyday mundane tasks which seem to take up so much of our lives these days. It doesn't take a lot of effort to get up and make your voice heard, but unfortunately I don't think this will happen until our air is contaminated and water supplies dwindle to such an extent that there will even be famine within the richest Western States of the world. Only then will the richest businesses and most self-absorbed people begin to wonder 'How did this suddenly happen?'

As agent Smith quotes... 'Human beings are a Virus, you're a plaque' (The Matrix, 1999)

I couldn't agree more. Humans are the single most destructive race this planet has ever known and balance is unachievable due to mass overpopulation and the fact that we are always at the top of the food chain. It's worrying to think that after less than 200 years of commercial pollution, the earths O-zone layer is diminishing and sea levels are starting to rise. I wonder where we will be in the next 100 years or maybe even 50. I dread to think.

Everyone should care and the USA's refusal to sign up to the pollution targets, even though it is the largest contributor, is alarming. But I suppose some good news is that from 2000 onwards this issue is recieving much more publicity, and intelligent people are more aware of the importance of recycling while being mindful of what meat and fish products they buy.

I wish I could wave a magic wand but I can't so I guess we are just going to have to do the best we can within our lifetime.

Answer 3

There is so much information going in both directions of this issue. People think the USA is the biggest polluter, but I think this is untrue, there are even more fines there for pollution than in the third world countries to the south of the US and Canada. Take Mexico for instance. Very little sewage control, food cleanliness control, (I have been there) you can do nearly anything you want if you have the money to bribe someone in authority to look the other way. Of course there are limits, as anywhere.
Personally we REALLY DON'T KNOW, if warming is a condition or just a natural trend, because there are no records back very far to observe. I think it is a scare tactic, that certain politicians want to use to get re-elected, be cause they SAY "they care".
Just like the Hollywood loonies, they have millions of dollars or euros, but they spend most of it on themselves, OH THEY CARE (about being on the right side)

Answer 4

Since we are all pretty well stuck on this little blue planet and our children and grandchildren will have to grow up in a future which we are instrumental in creating it becomes the problem of us all. I think the determing factor in the level of interest and willingness to work towards a better future for our children and grandchildren is very simply whether we have a concept of the future or live only for the here and now. Unfortunately too many people live only for the here and now. We get so caught up in living today with all the demands that modern society makes on each and every one of us that there hardly seems time to worry about a future that hadn't as yet arrived. Add to that the concept that the problem is too big for the individual to grasp or correct and you get the 'let the experts handle it' syndrome. Bottom line is that many knowledgable scientists already feel we have reached the point of no return and that begs the question, what next?

Answer 5

This problem can be sorted out on so many levels. It is everyone's problem.

Re-cycling and composting - makes sense as landfill is not good.

Reduce packaging - there is far too much packaging used on products today... we need to stand together as consumers to tell companies that this is no longer acceptable.

Energy efficiency - why would anyone want to throw away money to line the pockets of global energy giants.

Exert political pressure - USA and all governments must be held accountable. Use your vote and lobby your MP. We have known about the crisis in the climate for decades now, and should no longer have the option of deferring it for the next generation.

Currently this is the only planet we have.. it will bounce back after we have gone.

Answer 6

the world has been warming up and cooling down since it its beginning...and will probably continue to do so until its end (which is inevitable) - only now does man assume he can make a difference to this,,,, I don't - my assumption is that at sometime during human existence bad things will happen to the weather and temperature.
As I understand it one volcanic eruption will produce more gases than every car ever made has ever produced - if you feel you can stop volcano's erupting, or earthquakes, or sun spots - then you should do something about global warming. Personally - I don't waste water or electricity (I pay for them) I make only essential journeys because I pay for fuel and I put an extra jumper on in winter. I do not recycle glass and tins that require 'washing in hot water' before collection as this is a waste of resources and money, but I do take my newspapers to the recycling bin when I'm shopping - to save space in my bin. Practical people although they may not make much difference - may 'save the planet?' by default.

Answer 7

It's always someone else's problem. I first read of the potential for global warming as a child in the 1960s. Exasperation with head-in-the-sand attitudes has been my life companion.

The worst part is that now I'm a believing Christian, I find that most of my fellow-Christians are even more complacent than the general public.

Many of them want the world to be destroyed quickly because they equate this with Jesus coming back. They seem to have no sense of responsibility or conscience about this. Then they make a huge issue about abortion! (I too disagree with abortion, by the way).

Answer 8

You're telling this to a girl who hates the snow anyway.

An increase in temperature by 3.6 degree F over the next 50 years would increase heat related deaths by 2,000, but would reduce cold related deaths by 20,000. If it warmed up to 4.5 degrees F over the next 50 years, the annual death rate in the US would drop by 40,000, and also reduce medical costs by nearly $20 billion per year.

Warmer temperatures also save energy. The cost to run air conditioning is significantly cheaper than it is to run heating. We would enjoy a $12.2 billion savings a year, that is, if energy prices remain the same...if they go up, the savings are even greater.

In the June 6, 2003 issue of SCIENCE magazine reports that the Earth is greener now than ever before during the past 100 years. SCIENCE found that the increase in warming that has occured in the past century has resulted in 6 percent more plant growth globally. The Amazon jungle, a place that had been dwindling, has accounted for a 42% increase in plant growth. Increased temperatures have brought increase amount of rain, providing reliable moisture to droughty parts of the world, allowing for more stable farming conditions than ever before. Plus, the warmer temps add to a longer growing season. The gas CO2 (man-made and natural) have increased plant developement through indirect fertilization, and crops, especially wheat, rice, and soybeans, have benefitted from this.

I agree with you, global warming is a problem, but it also brings solutions to problems as well. As a global community, we're going to have to do everything we can to solve the problems associated with global warming, but we can also enjoy the oppotunities it gives us as well.

Answer 9

No. I have made it my life's work to find a solution to this problem. My work has yielded significant results. I have developed the world'.s largest man made carbon store: glacial clathrate storage. I have worked out how to make air capture of carbon dioxide workable but it falls outside of the Kyoto Protocol and hence does not qualify for carbon credit trading. This means that there is no income stream to established the industry. Very frustrating.

Answer 10

Our planet is a little boat in an endless sea, and some people is drilling holes on the deck. We better do something about it before it is too late, maybe not for us, but for the ones that will come after us.

I would like you to read and answer the following related question:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnEwusgLTCk33dlOFos7og8gBgx.?qid=20060921133043AAoraiA