I just took out the Day After Tomorrow from my local library - what's the current consensus on global warming?

Question

Would cutting down on carbon emissions have a significant positive impact or does the world's environment fluctuate in a process largely outside of our control?

Answer 1

There really is a consensus: global warming is occurring and man MIGHT have something to do with it. Other then that, as the others noted, there is controversy. Astrophysicists will tell you that these cycles occur when the sun warms or cools and since it has been documented that Mars is going thru global warming concurrently with Earth, that seems to make a great deal of sense to me. The argument for man's involvement is based mainly on a single graph that shows exceedingly quick warming starting circa 1900. My read on this is that man is speeding it up somewhat but when the cycle ends, it will get cooler regardless. Other evidence will be sited but none is conclusive and often other studies show oposite affects. Now, the part you never hear! If the world warms up as predicted, huge expanses of Canada and Russia will be cultivatable - more food for the ever expanding population! Most of the additional heat will be stored in the tropics.

My belief? There are reasons enuf for mankind to control polution but global warming isn't one of them.

Answer 2

There is no consensus as to global warming. Personally, I do not think there is anything to the idea of global warming and that the hype is made up to scare people. Why? to get us off our dependency to oil.

If you ask a meteorologist, one that knows something beyond reading a weather chart, you will find that the Earth goes through temperature changes very regularly. Sometimes it is even hotter than it is now, sometimes much cooler.

To assume that the rise in global temperature is because of what we are doing (pollution, etc) on the planet is pretty narrow minded. Simply put, data of weather changes are only a few centuries old, and only in the last few decades have we kept accurate readings. Considering the Earth is billions of years old, a few hundred years is NOT enough of a scientific sample to draw any conclusions by.

Here is another thing to consider... There have been MANY times where the particulate matter has well exceeded anything we have today. When huge volcano erupt or meteors hit, these event throw more matter into the air than we have generated in the history of man, that these events put it in the atmosphere in a matter of hours. Guess what... the Earth and life survive. Considering that, are we really polluting that much? I don't think so.

We know for a fact that we (the Earth) go through ice ages and times of drought and heat. What's to say that we are not seeing one of those right now? Answer, we could be.

Global warming? I truly doubt it.

Answer 3

There is no consensus.
The tree huggers would have you believe every time you turn on a light, you're contributing to the demise of the planet.
The realists know that a single volcano can spew as much pollution in one eruption as all the cars/trucks in the WORLD emit in 10 years.
Why do we try to take so much 'credit' for global warming.

The history of our planet shows that heating & cooling are normal cycles.

Answer 4

i am in the middle of writing an editorial about global warming and the global temp. have increased by 1.4 degrees Farenheit. it might not seem like a lot, but when it comes to our environment it is. animals cannot adapt to warmer environments and increasing temp. will cause a rise in sea level from melting glaciers. this will eventually become less habitual for humans to survive. good luck

Answer 5

I am freezing my *** of I could certainly go for some global warming. As far as the whole world crisis goes yes we shoudl reduce emissions to help prolong the life of our planet.

Answer 6

As far as I can tell the consensus is that nobody knows. Given that nobody knows, some people say "It won't hurt to be a bit careful." ; others say, "It will hurt me, thank you, and I'm not going to change my lifestyle."

Answer 7

Since we have screwed up our planet so much. It could happen at any time at any place and with any magnitude. This is why it is so scary. Humans are doomed!