What do you think about global warming, do you care?

Question

I just saw this article on yahoo about global warming and the future. In 70 years people will suffer hunger and water shortages because of increasing climates....read the article.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070130/sc_nm/globalwarming_australia_dc

Answer 1

I was a strong skeptic just a few years ago, but the evidence is mounting and the consequences of ignorance are not bliss.

There is strong evidence that global temperatures are rising. There is strong evidence that there is a direct relationship between atmospheric carbon and global temperature. There is increasingly strong evidence that carbon is rising at a rapid rate, and that fossils fuels are too blame.

If we wait around for 100% proof positive, it may be too late to save our planet. The results will be higher sea levels, engulfing large parts of our landmass. We will have extended droughts and famine, with resulting wars and conflicts. Sea life will die off as the coral reefs become extinct.

In other words, life on Earth will become a living hell, if we live through it. I suppose we can all just eat Soylent Green.

Answer 2

While I do believe we are in the midst of a global climate change, I doubt the science purporting we are the cause. We sure aren't helping the situation but it is a natural phenomenon. Climate changes have been happening on earth since the beginning of time i.e core samples taken from various spots around the globe show multiple warm periods as well as ice ages. Yes the earth is heating up and the ice is melting which will result in a cooling of the oceans and thus a changing of the weather patterns. This ocean cooling wil plunge us into another ice age and the process will start all over again. The Earth will Heal Herself, even if she has to purge a majority of us to do it. As far as the ocean levels rising and flooding us from the coastland, Hogwash. The majority of the ice is floating in the water already. Ice expands when it freezes and contracts when it melts and its mass displaces the same amount of water it is floating in, so in all probability the ocean levels will actually recede somewhat taking into consideration evaporation and such. Ever see what happens to a glass of Ice-water when the ice melts? the level in the glass remains the same. Try it, put some ice in a glass and fill it to the rim with water. leave it sit till the ice is gone. Does the water spill over the edge of the glass? NO! Now like I said before, we sure aren't helping the situation any, our industrial revolution probably helped things along a bit, sped things up, but it would have happened anyway, with or without our "help". Do I think we need to do what we can to protect our environment? sure I do but I am also a realist, a creature of comfort. I'm rather fond of my warm home, I like it when I flip a switch and the lights come on. I would like to see us move away from fossil fuels and toward a more environmentally friendly fuel. My fuel of choice would be Hydrogen but hey, that's just me. What we should do is demand more alternative fuel vehicles from the automakers, I tend to believe pumping all this oil from the ground is doing the Earth more harm than burning it. That oil was down there for a reason and I don't think it was just waiting for us, know what I mean. I theorize the underground workings of the earth depend on the vast seas of oil underground to accomplish whatever goes on down there. Same with Natural gas. We have drained these seas of oil and pockets of gas and left huge voids underground. What happens when these voids start to cave in on themselves? Is that where all of our water will go? something has to fill the emptiness, doesn't it? Am I wrong on this? Something to think about.
Just the thoughts of a average guy.
Thanks for taking the time to read it.

Answer 3

Yes! The polar ice cap is in the process of melting right now, and ocean water levels are slowly rising. Temperatures in the US in some places have gone up an average four degrees Fahrenheit than normal. Lately there have been more bad wildfires than ever. Worse natural disasters and climate changes are happening in the past decade. Wildlife is becoming extinct and moving because of shifting in climates. Disease-carrying mosquitos are also expanding their range, over twice as much as before. There is a lot more, and all to blame on global warming. Yes, I actually care a lot. I have a website and my goal for 2007 is my current global warming project. It means a lot to me, because I believe the consequences of our mistakes should not be dumped on future generations. It's time to start making changes. For a list of things you can do, most inexpensive and easy, check www.stopglobalwarming.com

Answer 4

The scientific debate about whether global warming is real and caused by man is over.

Scientists agree it's real and caused by man:

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5702/1686

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1995348,00.html

Business leaders agree it's real and caused by man:

http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/22/news/companies/climate_emissions/index.htm

Republican leaders agree it's real and caused by man:

"We simply must do everything we can in our power to slow down global warming before it is too late. The science is clear. The global warming debate is over."

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican, Governor, California

"Our nation has both an obligation and self-interest in facing head-on the serious environmental, economic and national security threat posed by global warming."

John McCain, Republican, Senator, Arizona

"These technologies will help us become better stewards of the environment - and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change."

President George Bush, Republican

The global warming deniers are exactly the same type of non-science believers as the people who don't believe we landed on the moon.

I would have added "or those who believe the Earth was made 6000 years ago". But I can't. Evangelical Christians believe it's real and caused by man:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,243801,00.html?sPage=fnc.science/naturalscience

The scientific debate over whether global warming is real and caused by man is finished. Yes and yes.

And it won't be benign. It will flood coastal areas and damage agriculture. Rich countries will see huge costs, and the standard of living will go down. In poor countries people will die of starvation.

The IPCC report will be available in a few weeks. It will cost money, it's 1600 pages, and crammed full of data. But someone will put it up online at some point.

The IPCC report is the biggest scientific paper ever, with the most data, the most authors, and the most peer review, in the history of science. It is the very pinnacle of hard scientific research. The last paper to hold that title was the last IPCC report in 2001. You can look at that one here.

http://www.ipcc.ch/pub/online.htm

Science does not get any more solid than this.

Answer 5

A lot of things, for starters, Im not completely convinced that all the problems are from us - I mean we're in a climatic upslope from a previous ice age, so its normal that temperatures rise a bit over decades. Second- the pollution problems the ozone etc, which are human caused - are not yours and my problem - as if we could ever cause as much damage with our little bits as those huge companies do every hour of everyday. Stop getting onto citizens about ooh watch your heating bills or whatever and startputting restrictions on the big players.

Answer 6

I think its terrible. Everyone blames it on the planet, but no. We can blame ourselves for this problem. These poor arctic tundra living animals are on the brink of extinction. The article you read was 100% true. Unfortunately some of us and future generations will suffer a horrible death because they/we will starve because its too hot to grow crops, water shortages, far more coastal storms (i.e. hurricanes and tornados) etc. I hate the fact that these people KNOW its wrong to do things like littering and dumping oil, yet they do it anyway. Thanks to those people, our planet won't be here much longer.

Answer 7

That is not the problem ,it is the population increase that will make things come to a head. The Moslem's will blame someone and think they have the right to kill . When it get that critical look out ,the nukes will fly and half of the world will die.With residual health problems due to radiation. LOOKS VERY BAD.

Answer 8

It is the height of arrogance and egoism to think that the lowly human race in the last 100 years has been able to influence a planet and its atmosphere. Politics prevail once again.

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

I am still upset when the world's greatest scientist told us in the 1970's and 80's that we were headed for a ice age unless we changed our habits. We were not told that was enough warming or thanks, nothing. Now they need more $ and something else is wrong?