2007-03-25 11:15:59 · 6 answers · asked by x•§•xDareDevilx•§•x 2 in Environment
Because the scientific data wasn't nearly as strong 10 years ago. Carl Sagan once said (he was talking about alien visitation) "extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof." A large number of scientists were concerned, but they couldn't convince others to share that concern.
The IPCC report in 2001 convinced many scientists. But there was controversy about some of the data, particularly a graph called the "hockey stick".
But that was resolved. And the scientific work that led up to the 2007 IPCC report has convinced the vast majority of scientists, and even a large number of conservative politicians and business leaders, who surely didn't want to believe it was true.
Note that the US has lagged behind the rest of the world on this. Most of the world signed the Kyoto treaty several years ago. However imperfect the treaty (we need a new one) it was a sign of how seriously most countries in the world were about the issue at that time.
History of the science through 2000 here:
http://aip.org/history/climate/co2.htm
Proof of "vast majority" here:
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5702/1686
Best summary of the convincing data here:
http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf
2007-03-25 11:31:57 · answer #1 · answered by Bob 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because the liberal elite thought they had better paths to their ultimate goal of complete government control over every aspect of your life. But, most of these have proved less effective than they hoped so this is their current stalking horse (yes I know I am mixing metaphors). The same goes for the European's perennial desire to in some way eliminate U.S. economic dominance. My prediction is this current phase of the game will also pass and some new crisis will be found, manufactured so that the game can continue.
2007-03-26 15:25:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because a few decades ago the same people were screaming that we were going into another ice age.
2007-03-25 18:48:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
we never realised colectively the harm that humanity was causing to this Planet
like a disease on the globes surface
2007-03-25 23:37:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Please do not lose sleep over this. Yes it was realized before, because it has been happening since the Ice Age. Do your part... do not pee in the Ocean.
2007-03-25 18:24:30 · answer #5 · answered by jaypea40 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
no.they knew it 20yrs ago.its all about money.money money
2007-03-25 18:24:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋