Do you still deny that global warming exists or that it is a major problem?

Question

Now that a new "smoking gun" report was just annonced and will be released by 600 scientists (and reviewed by 600 more scientists and edited by bureaucrats from 154 countries) that says global warming does exist and presents a major problem for the entire world's population -- do you still deny that it exists and is a major problem?

And now that the CEOs of ten major American corporations (including Alcoa, BP America, DuPont, Caterpillar, General Electric, and Duke Energy) have declared global warming to be a major problem that requires the federal government to issue mandatory reductions in climate-changing pollution -- do you still deny that global warming exists and is a major problem?

And now that the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the "doomsday clock" forward two minutes, declaring that "dangers posed by climate change are nearly as dire as those posed by nuclear weapons" -- do you still deny that global warming exists and is a major problem?

Well, do you?

Links to info mentioned above:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/01/23/climate.report.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/01/22/ceos.climate.ap/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/01/17/doomsday.clock.ap/index.html

Wow, Cheryl, you really like to twist words, don't you. I never said only 1,200 scientists believe that global warming exists. I said 1,200 scientists worked on the report. How many studies have that many scientists participating? I bet you could count them on one hand. You're in denial, lady, and your descendents will pay the price.

Scot -- so you don't care, because if it exists, it's too big of a problem to solve, is that it? Great attitude, Scotty. You must be a real go-getter and motivator.

Answer 1

It is without a doubt the biggest problem that has ever faced humanity, other problems (crime, immigration, terrorism) are majorly played up by western governments. And even these problems will get a lot worse as global warming continues.

I just hope to God we can do something before it's too late.

P.S. The scientific community of the world is in fact unanimous that global warming occurs, the only doubt comes from a few scientists. And trust me on this one, my uncle has a degree in physics and works at the centre of nuclear research in Geneva. He knows a fair bit about science.

Answer 2

So what if global warming IS a fact, do you anticipate that the politicians can reverse it?

If CO2 in the atmosphere is the main culprit, how much of it is due to the burning of fossil fuels? (Answer: 4%)

So what are they going to do, when CO2 emissions from the sea account for 57% of CO2 in the atmosphere, and normal respiration accounts for 38%, with just 1% being due to changes of land use and de-forestation?

To make a significant change to the overall amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, let alone reverse it, you wouldn't be talking in terms of a 10% reduction in oil or coal consumption, or even 20%, or even 30%.

Nothing short of 50% is going to have much of an effect, and that would spell economic and social collapse.

It's very easy to state the obvious, but it takes a bit more sophistication to arrive at suitable answers I'm afraid, and a few people walking to work or getting the bicycle out, isn't going to save the planet.

In fact, the fashionable obsession with global-warming may be diverting mankind form the more pressing issues of over-population, waste of resources, chemical pollution and waste-disposal.

Furthermore, ALL the western government continue to peddle the myth of globalisation, neo-liberal economics and the rush towards world-wide consumerism; the very reason for excessive energy production, transport pollution and the problems described above.

In a post-consumer society, you may stand a chance of being taken seriously, but not as things are at present, because there are too many vested interests in maintaining the status-quo of capitalism.

Answer 3

Natural global warming will occur, as will natural cooling. It has happened in the past and will happen again. Now, if you choose to follow the governments suggestion and spend your time and money correcting nature, which basically means giving your money to be spent where politicians say it should go, mainly in thier pockets, then go right ahead. For instance, recycling wastes much more energy and resources then just using naturally recycleable materials. It also costs more to the consumer. but the politicians don't show you that. so believe what you wish, either way will not matter in the end. except you will be paying more taxes for programs that appear to help, but just move the problem elsewhere. Don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain!

Answer 4

There are two possibilities: either global warming is natural and we can't do anything about it, or global warming is man-made and we WON'T do anything about it.

America has 5% of the world's population ans uses 25% of the world's resources, including energy. most of that energy comes from burning fossil fuels. Are you going to stop using all that energy? Maybe. Are your neighbors going to stop? Probably not. Over half of new vehicles sold in the US are SUVs and pickup trucks.

Worse still, the rest of the world is racing to catch up to American consumption levels. China and India are industrialising as fast as they can. Every Western car maker is drooling at the prospect of two billion new customers. Add just a few other Asian countries, and you have half the world's population, all breaking records for economic growth, and using more energy at the same rate.

Even in places like England, the consumption is growing rapidly. In the last thirty years, energy consumption in England has DOUBLED.

And yes, if you ask the average American, they still choose to believe there is not a problem. So, as you see, the problem is either natural and insoluble, or man-made and insoluble. Take your pick.

Answer 5

If you can only find 1200 scientists on this planet to go along with it, then I'm not buying it.

It would be more interesting to post how many of those 1200 and the other believers are personally doing squat about it.

And since when are corporate CEOs authoritative on anything but how to make a buck? Especially when they pass the buck on to The Government to "do something".

Finally, the Doomday Clock? Hahahaha, why don't you see what old episodes of Star Trek say about Global Warming while you're at it.

EDIT: Scot D's response (see below) is actually one of the most insightful comments I've ever seen on the subject. He deserves the 10 points.

Answer 6

i personally would give up almost everything (except my family and their health) if it would mean we'd get our sh.t together. i agree with scot d., i already knew basically everything he said. and i feel i do my part. but for the rest, things need to be mandatory. screw the whole american ideal of "if i want it, i can have it and to hell with the rest of the world"...we're like a big fat bully who eats everyone else's food AND steals their lunch money. we need to make more intelligent decisions when we buy pretty much ANYTHING...and i think suvs and big trucks should be unavailable to the general public unless they can reign in the emissions on them. call me a radical...i'm just willing to do what it takes to get the job done. americans are spoiled and they need to grow up

Answer 7

whats your problem? are you mad at the whole world? most of the $$ we give to politicians for the global warming goes to the politicians, not the global warming. go ahead and make a stand, but the politicians arent helping. if you have more to say about global warming, i posted a question about it. you can leave me a message about it there.

Answer 8

I never denied it and I think President Bush and the USA and other countries that use coal and other pollutants need to get with the program and do something about this before its too late.

However maybe we can educate the people who asked this..

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aoz4TRoNin9WGbSfurJjUr8Fxgt.?qid=20070121102858AACmN4E