ok, seriously im starting to get scared here?

Question

Well, everyone is saying how like global warming will destroy the Earth by 2050 or some crap. Any truth to this do you think? Opinions please? I'm freakin out.

Answer 1

Every few years someone is predicting the end of the world. Hundreds have committed suicide rather than see it end. But this old ball keeps on spinning, just like it's been doing for a couple of million years.
Everything eventually ends, and so will the earth. Check back in three or four million years.

Answer 2

There is truth to this. People who say that it is a cycle are wrong. CO2 levels have never been above 300 parts per million in the past 650,000 years, they can't measure any furthur back than that. Right now America is the only country that doesn't belive that global warming is happening. It won't destroy the Earth that quickly but in 30 years if we don't do anything about global warming, winter in New England will be like winter in South Carolina. We need to do something about it, but noone beleives in.

There was a poll. They got together 600 some-odd educated scientists and they asked them if they beleived global warming was happening/was a threat. Every single one of them said yes it was happeneing.

Answer 3

I do not believe that global warming will destroy the Earth by 2050; however, there is the possibility for more dramatic climate changes in the future. If anything, global warming is going to help the Earth progress in it's life cycle.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Listen to me now! It is false. All of it. They are trying to scare everyone and there is no truth to it. We may be in the midst of a warming trend but it will not destroy the Earth. This has happened millions of times in Earth's history and it is nothing to worry about. This is why I get angry with these doomsayers. They are freaking people out for no reason. Do not listen to these fanatics, please sister.

Answer 6

Actually, its already happening. It could be reversed if we started to behave differently towards nature - but I don't see it happening. Do you? What a pity, though - our beautiful planet!

Answer 7

Global warming may be the number one issue on which politicians lie. The scientific facts of global warming and its predicted adverse impacts are accepted by the vast majority of climate scientists. Opponents of taking action on the issue are using a few scientists who still have doubts—or who find financial advantage in having doubts—to try to keep global warming in the "no clear evidence" category as long as they can. But there IS clear evidence of a long-term warming trend, and the consequences of continued inaction may indeed be globally catastrophic. (See the GP article The Data on Global Warming is Conclusive for more on the evidence and likely impacts.)

Unfortunately, those who call global warming the "greatest hoax of all time" are not alone in the Global Warming Liars Club. Even those politicians who are courageous enough to fight for action on the issue are not telling us the whole truth.

The Kyoto Protocol, whose implementation was rejected by the US Senate 94-0, would have required the US and other industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2012. Given the amount that emissions have grown since 1990, that may seem like a daunting challenge. But the problem is really much worse than that, and it causes all but the bravest politicians to lie.

The Kyoto treaty, while a step in the right direction, is vastly insufficient to reverse the climate change trend. The global reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions probably needs to be more like 50% to have the desired effect, and it needs to happen sooner rather than later. Even tougher is the fact that developing countries claim the current problem has mostly been caused by industrialized nations and that their developing economies should not have to be constrained to their current low levels of fossil-fuel use.



Given the seeming hopelessness of the challenge and the level of sacrifice that would appear to be required of the US to be part of a truly effective global solution, it's easy enough to understand why most politicians would rather hide from the issue in general or cast doubt on it, and why even the politicians who do publicly support action on global warming are loath to discuss the whole truth.

But the potential effects of global warming, such as increased bad-weather events, coastal inundation, and—most seriously of all—disruption of global food production, are all likely parts of the future that will be faced by our children and successive generations if we don't fix the problem. The challenge to finding solutions is one of leadership—leadership that will devise programs to:

replace our CO2-producing cars and power plants with clean technologies;
reduce sources of methane (another leading greenhouse gas) by confronting the issue of large-scale animal farming operations;
eliminate chemicals that cause global warming and replace them with non-problematic alternatives;
devise innovative programs to reduce the loss of forests (which serve as "carbon sinks," thus keeping substantial amounts of CO2 from getting into the atmosphere).
WRAP- UPPoliticians and technologists will be needed to devise and implement solutions to global warming, and we consumers will have to be supportive with our dollars and our votes. But to get there, politicians must lead, not lie.

We saved the world from waves of Nazi stormtroopers, from hordes of Red Communists, and from the very ugly, unfriendly aliens in "Independence Day." Surely we can also save it from a few kazillion tiny greenhouse gas molecules!

THE HEAT IS ON ... YOU ... TO TAKE ACTION
Global Warming Solutions — Actions You Can Take to Mitigate Climate Change

When it comes to the debate about global warming science, it's all over but the shouting—meaning that there probably will be a lot of shouting in the future when the masses wake up and realize that the last 10 years of foot-dragging by "global warming skeptics" will cost us dearly in the end.

At this point, most governments and individuals are wising up and asking how best we can move forward to accelerate the implementation of serious global warming solutions. Many global warming solutions will need to happen at the national or global level, but there are many things we as individuals and families can do to reduce our contributions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

Today's article, adapted from materials made available by the Stop Global Warming campaign, lists a number of ways that we can each do our part in the quest for global warming solutions. You'll note that almost all of the actions address energy usage. That's because the principal greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, is primarily emitted by several of our routine activities:

use of our cars (which burn gasoline or diesel fuel);
use of electricity (which is largely generated by burning coal and natural gas);
the heating of our homes (usually via electricity, natural gas, or home heating oil).
Reducing your energy usage—and hence your use of fossil fuels—equates to reducing your personal emissions of greenhouse gases.

~ ~ ~

Global Warming SolutionsIN YOUR HOMEReplace frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. The new bulbs will last longer and use less energy, which means less pollution from power plants. If you replaced just two incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, your household would save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. If every household in the United States did it, we would save a trillion pounds of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere!

Run your dishwasher only with a full load. This maximizes the overall efficiency of getting your dishes washed. You can also study how best to fit the dishes into your particular model—the more dishes you can get washed per load (without OVER-packing the unit), the more efficient your energy usage. You can also use the energy-saving setting (no heat) to dry the dishes. This can save 100 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Improve your hot-water setup. Wrapping your water heater it in an insulating jacket will result in a 1,000 pound per year reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. If you keep your water heater thermostat no higher than 120 degrees F, you can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 550 pounds per year. Another water-heating option that can improve efficiency, especially if you have long runs of hot-water pipes going to your most-used sinks, is the tankless water heater. This device heats the water needed at an individual sink "on demand" rather than keeping a large central tank of water hot ready for all sinks at all times. This is usually more efficient, and also gives you an "unlimited" supply of hot water for the affected sinks (and showers/tubs).

Don't leave the water running. It's always a good idea to turn off the water when you're not actually using it. When hot water is involved, minimizing water usage also reduces energy usage. For example, when you're washing your hands, soaping up in the shower, or doing dishes in the kitchen sink—turn off the water until you actually need it for rinsing. Another way to reduce hot-water usage is to take shorter showers. Similarly, installing a low-flow shower head can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Maintain your HVAC system. It's relatively easy to clean or replace the filter in your heating, air conditioning and ventilating (HVAC) system every month or so. Doing so will maximize your system's performance, minimize its energy usage, and ensure that the system keeps the inside of your home comfortable—and save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. If you don't know how to change your HVAC filter, have a routine system check performed by a qualified HVAC technician, and have him show you how to do regular filter changes in the future. (You should be getting your system serviced once a year anyway!)

Replace old appliances. Get rid of old, energy-inefficient appliances and replace them with newer energy-efficient models. Just by using an energy-efficient refrigerator, you can save 500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. (And do you REALLY need that old second refrigerator that's still running in the garage?) If you replace your current washing machine with a low-energy, low-water-use machine, you will be able to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 440 pounds per year. For even more savings, wash your laundry in warm or cold water (instead of hot). That will bring in a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of about 500 pounds per year.

Weatherize your home. Replace worn-out weather stripping and door sweeps, and caulk around your doorways and windows. You can reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1700 pounds per year.

Improve your home's insulation. Insulate your walls and ceilings; this can save about 25% of home heating bills and 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Bring back the clothes line. Air dry your clothes during the spring and summer instead of using the dryer. You can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide per year if you do this during the warmest six months of the year.

Global Warming SolutionsVIA YOUR CARKeep your vehicle in tip top shape. A tune-up can boost your miles per gallon from 4% to 40%. A new air filter can get you 10% more miles per gallon.

Check your tires weekly and make sure they are properly inflated. It's safer and saves fuel. If everyone in the United States did it, gasoline use nationwide would come down by 2%.

Nice rack—take it off. Taking the roof rack off your car when you aren't using it will add up to savings by reducing the aerodynamic drag on your vehicle.

Carpool. Leaving your car at home just two days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 1,590 pounds per year.

Drive smart. Don't accelerate too quickly. When you drive aggressively or in spurts and quick stops, you waste fuel. For more tips, see the GP article on how to beat high gas prices.

Global Warming SolutionsVIA A NEW CAR Buy a high-mileage hybrid. You can get 50 miles to the gallon and reduce your personal demand for oil. Your government hears you by how you spend your money. Get more info on hybrids from HybridCenter.org.

Buy a fuel-efficient car. Even if you don't run right out and get a hybrid, consider finding a car that gets more miles to the gallon than your current vehicle. According to the US Energy Information Administration, you can save 19.5 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon of gas saved. If your new car gets 5 miles per gallon more than your old one and you drive an average of 10,000 miles in a year, you'll save several thousand pounds of carbon dioxide per year!

Global Warming SolutionsTHROUGH YOUR PURCHASESBuy locally produced food and merchandise. This reduces the amount of energy required to transport products and it keeps money in your community, making it stronger. Developing this habit is also a good defense against the possible future complications of peak oil { 2005/06-14/peak-oil-article.htm } because it recognizes the need for peak oil because it recognizes the need for relocalization Joining a CSA is a great way to buy local food.

Buy paper products that use recycled paper. It takes less energy to turn recycled paper into new products than to make new paper from virgin trees. Look for high percentages of "post consumer content" when you buy paper products, including toilet paper and facial tissues Don't buy paper products from companies that refuse to use post-consumer paper. You can also try to get more mileage out of the paper you use—when you write or print on paper, use both sides. Use of recycled paper is not a small issue—the paper industry is the third greatest contributor to global warming emissions.

Global Warming SolutionsTHROUGH RECYCLING AND GOOD WASTE MANAGEMENTReduce garbage. Producing 2% less garbage will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,000 pounds per year. Add "less packaging" to your list of reasons for choosing one item over another. Bring your own cloth bags to the market or reuse the paper bags they give you. (Related GP article: Trash Can Liners and Plastic Bags)

Support recycling. Producing new paper, glass, and metal products from recycled materials avoids 70% to 90% of the energy and pollution that results from products made from virgin materials. You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling half of household-generated waste. Recycle at home and promote recycling programs at your school or workplace. (Related GP article: The Benefits of Recycling at Home and at the Office)

Global Warming SolutionsTHROUGH YOUR UTILITY BILLGet green energy. Many consumers can tell their power company that they want their electricity to come from sources that have minimal global warming impact, such as wind, solar, or hydro. This may cost you slightly more per month than electricity from "dirty energy," but you'll be doing a world of good. So call your local utility and ask to sign up for clean, green, renewable energy. If they don't offer it, ask them why not!

Buy clean energy certificates. Another way to help spur the renewable energy market and cut global warming pollution is to buy "wind certificates" or "green tags." Doing this means you're supporting the addition of clean power to the nation's energy grid in place of electricity from fossil fuels. For more information, see Green-e.
Be The Switzerland of Climate Neutrality
Here's an innovation that's catching on: calculate the global warming pollution associated with your everyday activities, then buy enough clean-energy certificates to offset your activities and become "climate-neutral."

Here are three more places to learn how:
-- Green Tags site
-- NativeEnergy's WindBuilders
-- Conservation Funds Go Zero



Get an energy audit. Ask your utility company for a home energy audit to help you find out where your home is poorly insulated or energy-inefficient. This can save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

Global Warming SolutionsVIA SWITCHES AND SENSORSMove your thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer. You can save about 2000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year doing this—roughly half the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. If you're cold in the winter, instead of turning up the heat, put on a sweater or sweatshirt. Similarly, in the summer, shorts and t-shirts help a lot!

Turn off unused electronic devices. By simply turning off TVs, VCRs, DVDs, stereos, lights, and computers when you're not using them, you can save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. You can also reduce energy usage and carbon dioxide generation by addressing the problem of vampire power in your electronics and appliances.

Buy products that have earned EnergyStar certification. Over 40 different kind of products now carry the "EnergyStar" logo—the US-government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. Ratings apply to lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment, and appliances. With EnergyStar products you can save 30% on your energy bills and reduce gigawads of greenhouse gas emissions. See the list of EnergyStar product guides on our vampire power page.

Global Warming SolutionsAROUND THE YARDBe a righteous Lawnmower Man. Using a reel-style push mower instead of a power mower will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80 pounds per year. Gas mowers are also notorious sources of air pollution. The best global-warming solution for your lawn is to start converting it to a permaculture-based backyard habitat that does not need to be mowed at all! Learn more from the National Wildlife Federation.

Less power, more exercise. Hanging up your weed whackers, leaf blowers, and other gasoline- and electricity-powered yard devices in favor of rakes, brooms, hedge shears, grass clippers, and other manual implements of yard care will not only avoid carbon dioxide, it will reduce other air pollutants and help you with your exercise routine.

Plant trees and woody shrubs. They suck up carbon dioxide and produce clean air for us to breathe. One tree absorbs 1 ton of carbon dioxide. One thousand trees would suck up about as much carbon dioxide as the average American generates in a lifetime. Be sure to choose trees native to your region when you go a' arboring.

Global Warming SolutionsWITH THE POWER OF THE PEN, THE KEYBOARD, AND YOUR VOICETell the companies you buy from that you care about global warming. And that you will send your dollars elsewhere if they don't address the issue.

Tell the companies you invest in that you care about global warming. And that you will pull your investments if they don't address the issue. Don't like a company's stance on global warming? Go to shareholder meetings and speak-up!

Be an instigator. Promote energy-efficient measures at your school or workplace.

March! Have you joined the "Stop Global Warming Virtual March on Washington"? Here's where you can.

The Stop Global Warming Virtual March on Washington is a non-political effort to bring all Americans together in one place, proving there is a vast consensus that global warming is here now and it is time for our country to start addressing it. For more information, visit www.stopglobalwarming.org.
Global Warming SolutionsGRINNING PLANET WRAP-UP
Those were some great tips. Below are a few more ways you can contribute to global warming solutions. They're "biggies"—they cost substantial amounts of money, but they have a great "carbon payoff." Most will even save you money over the long run.

If you need to replace your home's HVAC system, choose a new system with the highest recommended efficiency rating for your area. Even better would be a ground-connected heat pump. Sometimes called a geothermal heat pump, these systems use the stable temperatures of the earth to greatly reduce your heating and cooling costs. They cost a few thousand dollars more up front but pay back quickly.

Install a solar hot water system. Such systems use the energy from the sun to augment your hot water heating, reducing your electric bills enough that the systems usually pay for themselves in a few years. After that, it's "free money"! Be sure to check your system design against your neighborhood's architectural covenants.

Install solar electric. It's highly unlikely that you'll be able to afford enough photovoltaic (electricity-generating) solar panels to completely offset your electric bill. But with most states now offering "net metering"—which allows you to sell your excess electricity on a sunny summer day—adding some solar electric is a great way to reduce your "carbon footprint." The US government and many states offer tax incentives for installation of PV systems, solar hot water systems, and other energy efficiency improvements. See DSIRE for specifics.

If you're moving, you have a number of opportunities to reduce your energy usage and thus reduce your carbon dioxide contributions. First up is house size. Though energy usage is also affected by climate and use of energy efficient technologies, it's generally true that the larger your living space, the more energy it will use. So "right-sizing" your new home will not only cost you less up front, it will also reduce your operating costs and carbon output. If you have the good fortune to be able to custom-build a house, work with a builder who is knowledgeable about energy-efficient technologies and techniques. Finally, choosing a new home that is close to where you work, shop, and play is a great way to reduce your annual driving miles and energy usage.

Let your members of Congress know that you strongly support raising fuel-economy standards. Not only should the average miles per gallon figures be significantly raised for cars and trucks—i.e. by at least 10 miles per gallon—all vehicles should be put into a single category to close the "SUV loophole" that has caused our average mileage figures to actually drop over the last 25 years.

The world's climate scientists are overwhelmingly in agreement that the current rise in the atmospheric greenhouse gas level is due to man's activities on the planet. You may be the type of person that refuses to trust any data coming from international bodies such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. If so, then believe the US National Academy of Science—the most prestigious scientific body in the United States—which concurs that human activities are the predominant factor in the current increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases and the resulting warming trend.