Should the UK ignore global warning scaremongering?

Question

If the UK stopped ALL CO2 emissions it would make absolutely no difference because our contribution is way, way down the list well behind the US, China, India, Malasia, former soviet bloc countries and many more - it's all on the net, so see for yourself! It's just a scam to line the pockets of the 'alternative/sustainable energy' merchants and to extract more in taxation for the government to waste on useless military junk and futile petty middle east conflicts! Most CO2 is absorbed by the oceans or forests - so those who are worried should plant a few trees!

There are several sites try this one: http://cdiac.ornl.gov/about/intro.html

The report is by former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern, and we all know that bankers always have a hidden agenda! Also, It's now nearly November and I still have the - oil fired - central heating turned off. So 'global warming' has reduced my CO2 contribution and the environment will at this rate reach equilibrium! Thus we don't need to do a thing - or tax anyone!

Answer 1

If only this were true.

Maybe you should read the Stern report to see how much the planet is in trouble. It all starts with changing the way we do things and diplomatically trying to change the way other countries do things. Unfortunately the other countries that you have mentioned are too greedy to change their ways at the moment, but hopefully world opinion will change that.

The hardest thing is to realise that we cannot sustain this way we are living, we are sadly too rich!

I know it's idealistic but we have to start somewhere.

Answer 2

I think it is disturbing that you claim that "its all on the net so see for yurself" - that is certainly not proof of anything - there are also aliens and conspiracy theorists and millions of crack pots on the web so best not to cite it as evidence of anything...

You are right in so far as it would make no difference if we had zero CO2 emissions given the higher polluting countries cited but to claim that it is a scam to line the pockets of alternative energy companies is ludicrous. You are also incorrect in stating most CO2 emissions are abosrbed by the oceans and forests, even Friends of the Earth are sceptical as to the value of carbon offsetting in planting trees - both sources can only absorb a finite amount. The forests are diminishing and carbon emissions from airline travel, cars, industry etc are clearly outstripping the fragile balance of natures abaility to adjust. The situation of climate change has been occuring since the Industrial Revolution as burning coal became widespread, the effects have increased dramatically as other countries join the rush for late capitalist endeavour of high spending consumerist lifestyles.
The biggest challenge which is a challenge to everyone is to accept the need for change. To persuade the polluting countires like the USA that short term gain equates to long term damage and the protectionist argument can not hold true. While alternative fuels are expensive now - if and when more people start using solar panels, wind turbines etc the cost of manufacture will fall making it less onerous. While no one wants to pay mor tax if people can not and will nto behave resonsibly then a stick may be called for...but only if there is a carrot to reward those embracing it. Complex but certainly not a waste of time or excuse the pun energy to engage in the process of seeking to minimise our individual responsibilities as well as seeking to bring about chane on a wider global scale

Answer 3

What makes you think it's just "scaremongering"?
As for the man induced global warming scenario, well there will always be arguments on both sides of the issue. But if those who believe it's just scaremongering are wrong, the effects could be devastating. Is it worth risking our childrens' futures?
Obviously there's nothing the UK can achieve in isolation. It must be a United Nations effort. However bearing in mind that organisations record, I doubt anything effective will be done. If those who say we are to blame are correct, I'm afraid we will all have to suffer the consequences. Previously permafrost affected areas in Siberia are already melting, giving off further greenhouse gasses. Whether this is man induced or merely a natural cycle is open to argument I suppose. However if the globe is heating up we can expect, desertification, rising sea levels, unpredictable weather patterns, famine & mass migration. The four riders will be abroad again and few will remain unaffected.
Speaking for the UK specifically, the temperature this autumn has been 3 or 4 degrees above the norm for the last couple of months. That's quite an increase in such a short period. Whether it's just a one off, or the start of a continuing cycle remains to be seen. But it's something to think about seriously rather than just being discounted off hand.
There are just far too many of us I'm afraid.

Answer 4

I do try to cut down on CO2 emissions, but I have doubts.
Sometimes I think they're just trying to cut back on pollution, but see a chance to make a bit of money out of it. Money from something they think they can justify, makes their job easier than getting it from some other means.

Climates have never remained the same. I know from history it was warmer in Britain in Roman times, and the Greenland ice cap has fluctuated in size over the centuries. At times you can sail around Greenland in a boat sometimes you can't.

A period of high volcanic activity can have a much greater effect than anything humans can do. The idea that humans are complete masters of our environment is a nonsense.

At worst I believe human activity is accelerating the rate of something that is happening anyhow. However, there must be a natural buffer in nature to take up natural fluctuations in CO2 anyhow.

Can politicians and scientists not show us actual evidence of how the CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing. Are there any websites we can look at?

I don't like being ruled by people I can't trust. I really don't know how we'll ever change that.

Answer 5

Remember Tschernobyl? Which country did suffer most from the fallout? The UK. So why do you think you are so clever and can ignore those facts? The worst people in the world are the Americans because they destroy whatever they want, second are the UK, BP, ESSO, and all the offshore business cleverly positioned in India and Africa where people starf and forget the laws just to get work and food.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At2AiLX2quPs69lWDSdvEcMgBgx.?qid=20061029232435AASSt5o

Read this!

And hate me or not.
Germany has the best Laws in that matter and should be a rolemodel for the rest of the world, but the english speaking world is so biased that annything German is laughed of or ridiculed

Answer 6

No we shouldn't - global warming is a serious threat to our future and actions need to be taken now.

You are right in pointing out that pollution from the UK is peanuts compared to the likes of America and China but that does not excuse us and taking the lead will hopefully set an example for others to follow.

However, I do not agree with the governments approach in taxing the working and middle classes or are already taxed to the hilt - smells like another Gordon Brown stealth tax idea otherwise their focus would be on corporations who use most resources.

Answer 7

As usual it doesn't matter what we do. The trouble is (Tony) is still trying to make people believe that we are still a big nation, well we are not. Until the people at the top realise that we are a very small part of the world now and we can't do much about that! But why they think we are big they will try to extract as much money as they can pretending that it will save the planet. All it will really do is make the population a little poorer and the government a little richer......... the way they like it, easier to keep us in our place then!

Answer 8

It is true - if the UK disappeared tomorrow, global warming will as the scientists claim, still happen. That is why we need to not panic and not punish ourselves or our standard of living. We need to put in place a clear plan to switch to energy saving technologies and upgrade to energy saving appliances, houses, vehicles, planes etc. What environmentalists are doing right now is going to provoke the wrong reaction from people. And as for their hypocracy - all the flying around to conferences - they should first clean up their own houses.

Answer 9

You are absolutely correct .Our share of the world's pollution is neglegible compared to natural pollution and countries like the US. The Government is just looking at new ways to tax us.What do they do with all the money they collect? Other countries have lower taxes and much better services etc,.When will the British people realise that our politicians are as corrupt as so-called Third World governments!

Answer 10

No, it is not scaremongoring and we are all responsible.

If, for example, you were cutting down a tree in your garden and it fell across into your neighbours and destroyed his garden and car, you would be responsible for the damage and end up paying for clearing up the mess. In this case, Europe and US have been the biggest polluters up to now but no-one is daring to ask for compensation.

The problem now is that the politians are up to their usual tricks and using it to create new taxes and increase control and surveilance etc. They cant think past the next election.