Global Warming...?

Question

I'm 16, so this may come to a joke to many of you...but I think global warming is a load of bull. The earth's atmosphere has been around for approximately one billion years, I have read that there has been countless eras of alternating hot and cold. I also read that the CEQ (Council on Environmental Quality) has concluded that atmospheric carbon dioxide was far higher 125,000 years ago. Come on guys....this is ridicuous...what makes you think this is like the end of the world? The atmospheric conditions have been changing (alternating if you will), for a while now. For all we know there is a pattern that the atmosphere goes through with temperature, and if the carbon dioxide levels were much higher 125,000 years from now.....I'm kinda liking our chances....anyways...what's your thoughts on this issue?

Answer 1

Yes I agree - atmospheric changes have occurred in the past. But, the reason for the present concern over global warming is the rate at which it is occurring - it is much more dramatic than in the past, and the results of such a change will be much more difficult to face as compared to years past.

The changes that you are referring to was during an era when man lived primitively in the caves and hunted for food. A temperature increase was no big deal for him. Such a dramatic increase in temperature could cause chaos in today's society... consider the wide ranging socio-economic crisis(es?) that could occur as a result of this. Natural or unnatural, once the human population (about 6.5 billion) competes for scarce resources (particularly land once the sea levels rises), all hell will break lose. Of course, this is all hypothetical and may never happen.

Let me ask you this... even if you do have me believing that this is natural, why wouldn't you try to stop it anyway? From what you're saying I gather that you do believe that it is a risk to human civilization, just a very small one. Why wouldn't you work to eliminate even that small possibility? All the means have been laid out before you. You just have to act on them.

Oh, and btw I'm also 16. You're question isn't that much of a joke. You've approached the issue much more maturely than some other jackasses on this website.

Answer 2

You are correct. CO2 levels have been higher in the past, and temperatures have varied quite a bit. This does not mean, however, that we should ignore the warnings from the scientific community that it's happening now.
We know temperatures are increasing, we know increasing CO2 levels are at least partially responsible, and we know that if temperatures increase too much, it could have very serious consequences.
Looking at what has happened in the past when the climate shifted, and looking at how fast it's shifting now, I'm very much not liking our chances if we don't do anything to slow it down.

Answer 3

We need more people like you that are willing and capable of looking at information and drawing your own conlusions as to what the data means. Am I saying that you or I are smarter than the scientists that say global warming is escalating out of control due to man-made CO2? No, we're not. But how smart does it appear if you put a bunch of global warming scientists in a room and you come up with everything from minor effects on one side to complete melting of all ice in antarctica.

So, keep up the good work. That way when someone tells you that global warming will cause the entire earth to be underwater, you can cry foul. Or, what about publications that claim antarctica is warming, when even CBS has reported on the inconsistency of the cooling trend over the last 30 years in antarctica. There is just too much hyperbole and confusion out there to justify a dramatic attack on this so-called problem.

Answer 4

Too bad a 16 year old kid has more facts regardless of 'links' thank you guys provided. the Kyoto protocol is a joke.
One of the reasons the USA wisely didnt sign it. Have you actually read the requirements from that placed on participants?

That same council the asker mentioned also found that their estimates of how much the sea level would rise ( which the presented at the time of Kyoto ) was way off. And now are admitting that the problem isnt half as bad as they thought it was.

What is the primary 'greenhouse gas' as you put it? its co2.
And volcanos pump out more co2 than all humans.
Humans and animals will have their effect on their environment but its simply a small speck in the scope of nature.

Answer 5

Yes science has shown that there have been a multitude of times in earths history when atmoshperic CO2 levels were higher then present... and they have also given clear cut explanations as to why... However the Gas levels have never risen so quickly in nature unless a major catastrophic event cause the jump.

Answer 6

Global climate change has been going on for as long as the atmosprere has been around. Its just that now meny poeple who never knew anything about this detail are now worried about the weather. They need to worry about something so why not this? In the real world polution is a growing problem that should be addressed so if this is how to begin it seems ok don't you think? Afterall its a start at least even if it is not a very good start.

Answer 7

I think that this is a serious matter. Atmospheric conditions are shifting dramatically and very quickly. Most of the countries in the world agree with this. Check out the Kyoto Protocol. Check out also the Río Convention, specifically when referred to the precautionary principle.

My main recommendation is that you do readings outside the limited information you can obtain in the US. Due to the fact that US opted out from the Kyoto Protocol, it is obvious that the documents you can get there, will be biassed. Try searching for essays or dissertations from UK. Compare the documents and get your own conclusions, but with all the facts at hand.

Let me know if you require some serious reading on this regard. I'll be glad to send you some papers.

Answer 8

From the examples you cite and the handwaving that you do, I have to conclude that you do not have an opinion on the issue - you have bought, or been sold, someone else's.

Take some science classes so that you can make up your own mind.

Answer 9

It's too bad you didn't read the sources you cite, however, even though the earth has been around that long - how long have humans been around particularly industrialized humans? Why has the concentration of greenhouse gases been increasing since the industrialization of humanity? Why are these gases more concentrated in industrial nations?

Too bad your intelligence doesn't match your age (or maybe it does).