Why is there so much political divide over global warming?

Question

And, why is there a political divide regarding the subject? Why would anybody lie to try to convince others that it is real if it not? Why do people not value the Earth, which we live on? Why is it so hard to find common ground?

Answer 1

There are a lot of ostriches with their heads in the ground, more mindful of what goes in their pockets today, than they're concerned for how life is when they retire.

Answer 2

I have to disagree. The reason for the confusion is not people being ignorant, there is scientific evidence supporting both. I have a masters in geography, nearly all the research that is ever published is sponsered, in this case by governments. They want us to think that we are at an impending disaster, this gives them more power to tax carbon emissions, car drivers etc. In UK there is virtually no political divide, they are all saying global warming is happening, whereas there IS a scientific divide.
Take a look at world temperature graphs- they are only ever covering the past 100 yrs or so, a period which has been getting warmer, when used with arguments for global warming. If you look at the earths entire history, we are currently in a cool period, there was even a medieval warm period, which has actually been taken off of graphs released by the UK government. There are natural climate cycles due to things like correolis affect and milankovich cycles, that are way more powerful than anything humans could impose onto climate systems, and if fate wanted to, could wipe us off the planet in a matter of a couple of years. For example, when the polar magnets flip (polar shifts, it could happen tomorrow) there will be tsunamis, hurricanes and all climate systems could reverse, and some scientists say that our radiation barrier from the sun will disappear. But governments cannot tax this, therefore they ignore it.
People forget that the ice caps retreated back from Britain in only 2000 years, massive global warming, with no carbon emissions whatsoever.
Please read the attached article, a report from the worlds most eminant scientists on saying that there are much more important things tp worry about. My opinion the real problems are pollution and overpopulation of the world.

Answer 3

Global changes are taking place.. there is not disagreement about that.. the divide comes over the causation. The alarmists ply on the emotions of people and use vicarious methods to get their message across. The other side prefers to rely on established facts.. The fact the axis of the earth has changed by 5 degrees.. occurred during the tsunami earthquake (which was felt for months after). Also, it is known, the pollutants put out by one volcano can accomplish what these people claim the worlds civilization is doing to it. Primarily the US of course. One must remain aware of the 1500 volcanos active around the globe. That is a lot of pollution.. We are also coming out of the last ice age. Indicating that what is taking place is rather more of a cyclic nature than anything else.. According to historical findings, the last ice age began about 10,000 years ago.. determining this factor by the finding of the Mastodons who were mostly found still standing with food still in their mouths. Another factor was the hole in the ozone.. this went on for some time.. After it closed during the winter, there was not much heard about it anymore.. Except by Al Gore.

I prefer to go along with the facts rather than the emotions..

Answer 4

While it is obvious that the earth is warmer than it has been in prior years. I just don't believe there is enough data to enforce the global warming theory. Usually when we try to make changes to help support this planet it turns out we did the wrong thing. This planet has endured a heck of a lot more being done to it then we have been able to do. and yet it's still here. I am not saying there is no truth in global warming I would just say that we need to look before we leap.

Answer 5

Because doing something to counteract the effects of global warming is expensive and will require inconveniant changes in the way we live and work. Who wants to put up with that, when we can just grasp onto far-fetched alternative theories put forth by scientists in the pockets of industrial magnates? Besides, it won't be our problem. The ecosystem won't go kablooey until our children's or grandchildren's generation.

Answer 6

the divide in regards to global warming is over what is actually causing it. The credible scientist believe we are just coming out of an ice age. Those with the political agenda think its caused by man. Since there is no agreement in regards to the cause, how can you fix it?

Answer 7

It is personal monetary (or, materialistic) gains versus losses for all mankind. If a person can gain, say $100 with the side effect of increasing global warming, he definitely would not care global warming, particularly because the impact is not solely on him.

Answer 8

Because that is just what it is-politics. The earth has gone through warming spells and cooling spells for thousands of years, but the scientists who point that out are scorned by the environmentalists.

Answer 9

Several powerful large industries will stop making billions of dollars if the government forces them to use environmentally friendly technology and policies. They will not be allowed to destroy parts of the wilderness to drill for oil or to dig up coal. Some politicial parties are best friends with the big corporations and will do anything to help their buddies make more money. The corporations will donate billions of dollars to help elect the politicians who ignore global warming. They will also donate money to create studies of global warming that are biased in their favor, then get the politicians to quote from those studies and say that global warming isn't happening.

Answer 10

Because some people realize we cannot just stop living because of global warming and other people are running around like Chicken Little

"The sky is falling, the sky is falling"

Answer 11

Because 30 years ago, all the scientists were warning about an ice age coming.

The weather is an extremely difficult thing to predict even next week, let alone 100 years from now.