Do you think that the man made global warming is being used as an excuse to get people to pay more taxes?

Question

I would like to learn more about global warming, the subject is a bit hazy in my mind at the moment. Is it just a natural process that the earth goes through, is this natural process being accelerated by man's interference, or is it just mans' fault? I was just wondering whether the governement in the UK really believes that it is man whos' generating the problems or if they are using that as an opportunity to charge more taxes... If the government was really concerned about man made pollution surely the law would be more strict in the recycling or banning things like unnecessary packaging, harmful products to the athmosphere etc... What do you think?

Answer 1

Global warming, or cooling, are natural processes that the earth goes through. Some could take thousands of years to change a few degrees, like during an ice age. Or it could be rapid like if there was a major volcanic eruption. But the main point behind them is that they are both natural occurances. When people talk about global warming today they are referring to a rapid warming due to man's harmful impact on the environment. That kind of global warming is happening because all the exhaust, smoke from smokestacks, and any other garbage put into the air traps heat more than the air would if it didn't have that junk in it. It's important to know that the sun doesn't heat the air directly. The sun's heat comes to earth in the form of radiation, which heats the earth's surface along with anything else that is opaque. Then the earth's surface heats the air through conduction and convetion, meaning the air get's hot just because it's next to earth's surface. The same thing happens to your car on a hot sunny day with the windows rolled up. So, once the air get's heated it stays around, it doesn't go into outter space and is all just trapped around the earth by gravity. And all the emissions that we are putting into the air increase it's ability to hold heat. It would be like sitting in that hot car with the windows up and opening a bag that had a gas in it which gave the air the ability to get hotter. That is kinda how we are right now. Not as simple though. The climate that we have is a delicately balanced one. It's really not possible to drastically change one part of it and not have the rest get screwed up. We have known about it for years. Why wouldn't we do anything? Think about all the companies that have billions of dollars sunk into practices that we would have to eliminate in order to really make a change. Those companies are going to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn't happen, and even though it may mean keeping global warming a secret, they have the money to do it. They have the money to bribe politicians, they have the money to pay off scientists, and they have the money to be somewhat untouchable. This may sound farfetched, but wouldn't you lie for a multi-million dollar payoff? If anything they have been trying to keep it a secret, not exploit it. You need to see Al Gore's video about this. Just seeing the pics of all the glaciers that have been rapidly retreating over the past 20-30 years is amazing.

Answer 2

There are about 1.5 E15 Kg of CO2 in the atmosphere. About 1% of this amount is added each year from fossil fuel. CO2 does not accumulate because it is reactive. It dissolves in the ocean and makes plants grow faster. It is like running the water in a bath tub while it is draining. Lets say that the water level is 100mm. If you increase the flow of water into the tub the level will rise to 120mm. It will go up some and find a new equilibrium.

So yes, we are causing a small increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. CO2 does effect the dynamics of weather.

This is the hard science that I have been able to find. It is possible that people with certain political ambition are using this as a ploy. It is also possible that there is more science to this, I'm just not there yet.

Answer 3

First off its not man made globle warming ,CO2 has nothing to do with it, the sun is going through a hot cycle which is a normal event , ice core samples do provide accurate readings of CO2 levels going back many thousands of years and todays levels are not high as in the past , the sun will continue for the next 7 years warming and 5 years on the downward cycle, so the government is on a massive con all round, they have been advised but are taking no notice , its not the in thing which has been said in a reply

Answer 4

No!

GW is here, it is real and it is very very worrying. The vast majority of scientists accept that Human activity is the underlying cause, but even if you think that there is a natural cycle underpinning it, there is no doubt that human activity is contributing, accelerating and magnifying the effects.

The problem is that tut-tuting does no good. The only solution is to make radical changes to the way we live, and that is going to hurt. Even people who have been thinking that the government should 'do something' baulk when the reality hits them, increased taxes, more expensive travel costs, compulsory recycling etc etc.

And there are powerful groups with a vested interest in carrying on regardless, who are pumping out a lot of disinformation and deliberately and cynically confusing the issue by publicising the dis-credited work of the few maverick scientist still doubting the human effect. (Hence that stupid documentary the other week!)

Answer 5

the ice glaciers have been melting for over 4000 years.
is that because of man made things. or is the water just getting warmer. hmmmmm
level 3-5 hurricane have been reported in the early 1800's
and maybe even before that.
the beaches have been reseeding for many years.
is that all because of man made. don;t think so.

it's all about the money and a way to made a great living.
we pay more for the price of what ever there blaming it on, and the courts,lawyers and the anti free whatever there calling there self these days or making big $$$$$ fighting for it.

just listen when they talk about it, they say. WE BELIEVE this or we believe that.
i know we paying millons, if not billons of dollars a year funding something they believe is happening.
it's such a great way to make a living.

Answer 6

Of coarse, I am not saying it is not all mans fault but there are a lot more ways than just taking our money, and in any case it it does not matter how much you pay it will not help or be use in any direct way of solving the problem, The government should bringing laws to fade out large engine cars in the future, if they are not available then it does not matter if you are rich or poor then you just can't have one, 99% of the time a motor of 1800cc is sufficient for most common uses and small 1100 and 1300 cc cars are more than adequate for town use, this way in 10 or twenty years there would be no more "Chelsea Tractors" or " Gas Guzzlers" this possibility has been possible for over 30 years but governments prefer to keep the big companies happy at the expense of the consumer, then they try to tell us it is our fault

Answer 7

Natural or not, we are facing bigger CO2 levels than 200K years ago. Temperature are increasing and Ice Caps (also eternal ice in montains) are melting.

We have huge disruptions in the weather everywhere. All records (heat, cold, rain, hurricanes) are within past 10 years.

Question should be:
How handle it?
How deep will be this impact on international economy?
How to manage and minimize possible consequences?

Government are more concerned about economy. CO2 redution means less production and it is not acceptable to developed country.

Rain forest in south America and south Asia keeps weather cooler and calm (rain). CO2 to O2 exchange are happening mostly in the oceans.

There are something happening and future impacts are bigger. Like fishing industry, everything will stops only when its too late. (There is no more Tuna like once had... Increased number of ships fish less tons than years before).

Answer 8

I think it is a bit of both - the Government does believe that global warming is man-made but is also using it as an excuse for new taxes. The fact is that for most people, higher taxes do not change behaviour. You just have to look at cigarettes and alcohol consumption.

Answer 9

Yes - it's just an excuse to get us to pay more taxes. If you ever travel to other countries you will soon realise that Britain is one of the cleanest countries there is. It the government actually cared about the environment they would spend the revenue from taxes on green issues but it is being used to fund two wars, Iraq and Afghanistan. I don't do anything green at all.

Answer 10

It is clearly being used by people with left leaning agendas to make people feel guilty. It is phrased, in the US, as a moral issue and not a scientific issue. In my opinion, there is global warming and humans are contributing a minor amount to it, less then one degree. It does argue against greatly expanding fossil fuel consumption. Warm temperatures are far better than the cold climates of a few hundred years ago that caused massive starvation. Right now, scientists are getting billions of dollars, as long as people are scared. That is why, along with leftest desire to shame people, that it is being overhyped to a ridiculous degree. I think people are more inclined to go along with a tax increase or increased government if they are made to feel guilty.