Why do you fear global warming if you trust the theory of evolution?

Question

Won't living creatures simply evolve to adapt to the evolving environment?

I'm impressed. We are seeing a few worthwhile answers here, along with a few voices of the disciples of the false prophet Al Gore.

Answer 1

Most of these posts amount to "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"

Humanity has survived through temperature shifts in the past ( THRIVING during warmer periods btw ) without the benefit of modern science. This latest temperature cycle won't kill us.

The Global Warming crowd uses these baseless theories of doom and gloom to scare people into accepting their poor science. But in reality it's at least as likely that global warming will once again be beneficial to humanity.

Answer 2

Because in a major change in global climate, it's the dominant species on the planet that suffers the most. They are the species that has adapted the best to the current environment, which is why they became the dominant species. They can't evolve to adapt to a major change in global climate because, relative to the slow process of Evolution, a global climate change can happen in the blink of an eye once the "tipping point" is reached.

Answer 3

There would be no way that humans could evolve as quickly as the Earth is changing.
Take for example, polar bears. They are not able to evolve quickly enough to withstand hours upon hours of swimming to find new land/ice to live on.
Eventually, if we stay on the course we are on, humans will be completed erradicated and a new life form will exist. I don't think anyone will be able to live through global warming unless they are able to withstand extreme heat and serious global disasters--such as typhoons, hurricanes, tsunamis, etc.
A majority of the articles and shows I've seen regarding global warming are predicting a complete depletion of life form, and hoping a new life form will someday exist on Earth.
I think now is a better time than any to start recycling, turning off lights when the room is not being occupied, driving more fuel efficient cars--little changes made by humans will help, if even just a little bit.

Answer 4

It's evolution that is the concerning factor in global warming. Most evolutionary advances occur at periods of mass extinctions, which in turn are often caused by sudden environmental changes, such as global warming.

You are correct in stating that living things will evolve to adapt to the new climatic conditions but many living things will also be unable to adapt or evolve rapidly enough and become extinct whilst others quickly exploit any weakness in those that are struggling to survive or adapt.

Why should this worry us? Because although mankind may be adaptable enough, many of the living things we depend on may not be... as examples, plankton forms the base of a highly complex and important food chain that eventually feeds many of us; grasses (to feed our livestock or to eat in the form of rice, wheat, etc) are hugely important and may suffer from disease if weakened by climate change. Virtually every person on this planet is dependent directly or indirectly on grasses... the evolution of a disease that wiped them out would just about finish us off as well.

Answer 5

Some will, but others won't adapt that fast. Humans may not survive long enough to evolve into a being strong enough to cope with a fast approaching climate change. And I know a lot of religious people who too fear global warming. Global warming is already started. Some just to wish to bury their heads in the sand and pretend it's something else, be they evolutionist, religious of nature, or just plain too ignorant to give it any thought. You, obviously, have given this issue some thought...kudos to you.

Answer 6

The whole idea in evolving is that some creatures have to die. It's trial and error. That's how it works my friend. Basically if there are 6.6 billion people on the planet now, the ones who can't cope with the rising temperatures, stronger storms, and water shortages will die. Perhaps only 1 million people will be left on the planet after that, or less. And most of the other species of plants and animals on the planet won't be able to withstand that kind of change in climate. Evolution means, the ones that survive live and procreate, but MANY must die first.

Answer 7

Not fast enough. The change we are wreaking upon the environment is occurring on a protracted geologic time scale. It is similar in that respect to Chixhulub, the meteor marking the end of the cretaceous.

Significant evolutionary changes generally occur over times scales of a hundred thousand to a million years. Global warming's impact will be measured in centuries, not millenia.

Addendum: Amanda makes a good point. There are 6.6 billion people on earth now. I think her estimate for the number of survivors is low, however, I would expect more than half a billion people will survive.

As for whether or not global warming is real--there is no question it is real. The question some scientists, schills for fossil fuel companies, try to raise is to what extent is man's activities responsible for it.

The majority of the world's leading independent scientists (those whose salaries are not direct corporate payments) have concluded that earth would be warming up now whether we were burning fossil fuel or not. They have also concluded that our activities have accelerated the warming rate by more than a factor of four.

But I figure, what the hell do I care if people in Bangladesh and India starve or die in coastal flooding? Serves those fools right for not having had the sense to be born in the good old USA, which consumes close to half the world's fossil fuel resources.

Answer 8

Sure, if you're talking about simple celled creatures living in boiling water inside some volcanic vent at the bottom of the ocean. Man has evolved to the point where he can destroy the planet, and there is no question he has already fouled his nest. Or do you think we can adapt to a thermonuclear detonation by putting on sun screen with an SPF of 3 gazillion?

Answer 9

Sure, but evolution takes place over MANY generations. We wouldn't just suddenly sprout fins and blowholes. Besides, if there were to be a sudden, cataclysmic event (a very rapid rise in the oceans even) we wouldn't have time to evolve. Why not just do our part to make sure that the Earth is here for all of our children's children's children (barring something like a meteor strike). What would it hurt to take care of our home?

Answer 10

I think I fear climate change most because I think I am smarter than the average dinosaur. The theory of evolution concerns extinction events as well as the evolution of species. I don't want to become extinct as a species.