Why does the U.S., among others, refuse to respond to global warming?

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6096084.stm

In case you don't want to read it, it basically says that global output will shrink by up to 20% within 100 years. It also states that the scientific consensus is that the temperature will rise 5-6 degrees C (10-12 degrees F, I think) in that time. Furthermore, sea levels will rise 6-7 meters, thereby putting almost the entire state of Florida, the country of Bangladesh, and others underwater.

This is a report from the chief of Britain's economic service. This is not liberal crap propaganda. This is real. Why will the U.S. and the world not pull together to fight this problem as a species? What must it take to get our governments to address this problem?

It's pathetic. As an example, I live in Texas where Rick Perry was just re-elected governor. Perry fast-tracked 12 new coal-fired power plants to power the state. Why could we not have used a cleaner fuel instead of the dirtiest one around?

Daizy - thanks for the intelligent answer.

Just when I thought the answers could not get any more unintelligent, I would like to give Adam the prize.

Spaulding - Congratulations, you have spotted the one thing that I am not conservative on - the environment. While the earth has undoubtedly had it's cycles independent of mankind, all reputable scientists now believe that the current global warming is caused largely by human involvement. Sure, the earth has its own means of reacting to contamination and pollution from events such as forest fires and volcano eruptions, yet when you overload the system, global warming occurs. Why not try to mitigate the problem now?

If you want to take an economic point of view, as I'm sure many people that oppose such environmental action would, then please realize that if we acted now, the costs of mitigating climate change would cost 1% of world GDP (output) for the next 50 years. If we fail to acknowledge our duty to Man, we will have to pay 5-20% of world output over the next century or two. Please reference the above article in The Economist for more information.

Apologies in regards to my last addition - the link was not to The Economist, it was to BBC. This article is under premium content for subscribers of The Economist so if you read the magazine, feel free to examine that as well; it is entitled "Stern Warning."

Answer 1

because bush and republicans are greedy money loving tree killing jerks!!

Answer 2

The eruption of Mt Saint Helen in the 80's put more pollutions into the atmosphere that all cars since they were invented you need to stop believing in the sky is falling crowd I am over 50 when I was in my teens the scientist were all predicting a new ice age. what I suspect from a lot of scientist is a money grab so they can get more funding for their studies, from the lefties around the world this would be a good way to cripple the US economically. Global warming and cooling have come on gone for eons and there is not a damn think we can do about it. I know you think mankind is all powerful but nature but us to shame look at what little hurricane did to this country last year

Answer 3

i count number on international warming yet not man made international warming. Now what has come to gentle isn't sick suggested phantom information of glaciers melting away in Bern Switzerland revealing communities that were inhabited 5 thousand years in the past and Greenland exposing coastal cities that were buried lower than ice for 500 years. We did have a mini ice age about 500 years in the past. i imagine we are nonetheless popping out of an ice age.after all, Greenland replaced into said as Greenland because it replaced into eco-friendly at one time. The Alps and Greenland are purely coming decrease back to an section they were formerly and guy had occupied. So, sure, i trust there is international warming yet not guy created and that i imagine that is between the numerous cycles the earth has lengthy handed by and could go by.purely God has the flexibility to ruin earth. guy may kill themselves yet not the earth.

Answer 4

Because the old industry has successfully made the environment a political issue in the United States. They have used the media to tout "arguments" (none of them scientific) as to why global warming is a "myth." However, all of the real science says that it's a problem.

After last night's election though, many evangelicals voted Democrat because the issue of the environment is now on their radar. Therefore, if the Republicans want to continue to court that demographic, they are going to have to change their tune.

Answer 5

How do you propose we stop forest fires caused by lightening and volcanoes which cause more ozone depleting chemicals to be released into the atmosphere than all human pollution combined.

I just read your bio. You call yourself a conservative yet ask questions about mythical problems? I thought all conservatives understood the planet goes through temperature trends and that mankind has minimal effect on it. You do realize how huge the planet is don't you? You do realize every human can live inside the state of Texas don't you? How can our minuscule amounts of pollution compare to those of volcanoes and Forest fires and natural gas escaping the cracks in the Earth's crust? The planet survived for millions if not billions of years before us with obvious disaster beyond what we can imagine evidenced by the mountains, islands, lakes, deserts, etc. How close minded can one be?

Answer 6

Well the simple reason we do not do something to end global warming or even acknowledge it, is because it is bad for business. It would not be cost effective. It is just the way it is. Our country cares more about profit margins than people.

Answer 7

Manmade Global warming is nonsense, who was responsible for global warming in the pre-industrial times? Was it pollution from caveman fires?

Get real.

Also, you put too much confidence in the dictionary definition of words, society makes the definitions- and changes them as it sees fit- dictionaries are just guides to meaning.

For instance the definition of "burglary" in a dictionary is not the same as the legal definition under which you would be charged for the crime ala your state's penal laws.

You'll get it, keep trying, one day it'll all make sense.

Answer 8

well, it's bad for the immediate gratification of polluting mega corporations so of course the Bush admin is gonna do it's best to make excuses to ignore the impending catastrophe and leave a new admin to scramble to clean up what mess it can. Bush has been the WORST president ever on the environment. he's undermined environmental protections on every level and sold off huge pieces of public lands to his corporate cronies to rape and despoil. so it's kinda like what Bush has done in Iraq. he makes a HUGE friggin mess and then leaves it for someone else to clean up.
i guess his queen mommy always had the maids and nannies picking up after her precious spoiled brat. it's a wonder he can even wipe his own butt (assuming he does).

PS. besides, with so many selfish self absorbed Rapture Christians assuming that the Earth is disposable he has even less reason to be motivated. "The End is Nigh" so grab what you can while you can in Jesus' name.

Answer 9

The USA is the biggest contributor to the factors that cause global warming. There are a lot of reasons we don't take action starting with the mass amounts of Christians who believe that the world is ending so who cares about saving it. Then, we have Bush in office who supports & proports to BEING a Christian so he has NO motivation to even try to help out with preventing or un-doing global warming.
Then you facotr in Americas need for greed and the cost of preventing further global warming & mass amounts of people loose interest.

Sad, disgusting but all TRUE.

When we loose our coast lines and fancy rich people loose property and their lives, MAYBE people will take heed.

Answer 10

Well, I have yet to see anyone, anywhere be able to do anything
about the weather or atmosphere, try as they might. People have
tried to change everything else about this world, but it is impossible
to change the weather, the moon, the stars, and the rotation of the
planets. Ain't God Good?

Answer 11

what are we going to do, spray the sun with coolant, cork up the volcanoes and make the forest fire proof, get real.


There are countries that pollute far more than the US

aww your making me feel all warm and fuzzy, get real and get over yourself, humans contribute 38% at best to the total pollution on this planet. get over yourself econazi