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I am doing an opinion paper on global warming, effects of our life on it, and stuff like that. Sooo, I was looking if ya know of any websites that may have statistics like:
How much the average person throws away in a year
How much electricity is used in one day (or hour or minute) in the U.S.
What percent of Americans recylce
Stuff like that. Basiclly any statistic or website that makes America seem like we don't recylce and use too much energy.
Thank you so very much!

2006-12-19 08:53:55 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment

3 answers

Here are the important stats (recycling isn't the issue):

CO2 is 30% higher than it has been for 650,000 years. Methane is 130% greater. These are two of the main pollutants humans put into the atmosphere in excess, and they are two of the primary greenhouse gases.

Look at the 'hockeystick', which shows a dramatic warming since 1950 after a fairly stable climate for 1000 years. In fact, the 10 hottest years in recorded history have all happened since 1990, with 2005 being the hottest.
(see links below)

How's that for proof of man's fault in this? There is ample proof, any real scientist will tell you that.

There has NEVER been an article doubting man's influence on global warming published in a peer-reviewed journal. A recent study of almost 1000 proved that.

Yes, the earth naturally heats and cools, but the rate and amount we are warming now is unprecedented in the recent geologic past. We are doing this, and we must stop it. This is not some political statement or rhetoric. This is science trying to educate a crass, ignorant public of the damage they are doing. The magnitude of temperature increase ALREADY is about 10x that of the 'little ice age' of the middle ages, and rate and amount are only going up.

Just to be clear, glacial and interglacial cycles are mainly controlled by astronomical fluctuations, but we have a detailed record of the last 7 cycles, and what the climate and CO2 is doing now is way different and extreme. The rate of increase is much higher than in the past AND the value itself is much higher.

HI CO2:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4467420.stm
HOCKEY STICK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5109188.stm
General climate stuff:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3897061.stm

2006-12-21 03:48:52 · answer #1 · answered by QFL 24-7 6 · 0 0

Some good stuff on this page, like total energy production and use for many countries.

2006-12-19 09:02:50 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0 0

the Stern report will be helpful or the IPCC( intergovermental panel for climate change) available online .

2006-12-19 10:02:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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