Skeptics - If global warming isn't real and mostly caused by us, why do these particular people say it is?

Question

"The science of global warming is clear. We know enough to act now. We must act now."

James Rogers, CEO of Charlotte-based Duke Energy.

"I agree with you (Gore) that the debate over climate change is over."

Rep. Dennis Hastert, Republican, Illinois

"Global warming is real, now, and it must be addressed."

Lee Scott, CEO, Wal-Mart

"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."

Senator John McCain, Republican, Arizona

"I'm trying to learn [about greenhouse gases and global warming]. The more I learn, the bigger believer I become."

Senator Lindsay Graham, Republican, South Carolina

“DuPont believes that action is warranted, not further debate."

Charles O. Holliday, Jr., CEO, DuPont

"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

The question is why, if global warming is false, these particular people think it's true? They don't get their science from Al Gore, they get it from the best scientists in the world. They're not ignorant, they've heard the skeptics, and they're not buying that. Why?

Not enough space. Here are a few:

"Global warming is already starting, and there's going to be more of it. I think there is still time to deal with global warming, but we need to act soon. Humans now control global climate, for better or worse."

James Hansen, Ph.D. climate scientist, NASA

"Global warming is the most challenging problem our society has ever had to face up to. Ice is the canary in the coal mine of global warming."

Britain's chief scientist David King

"By mid-century, millions more poor children around the world are likely to face displacement, malnourishment, disease and even starvation unless all countries take action now to slow global warming."

Michael Oppenheimer, professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University

But people will say they're doing it for money. Silly argument that I don't want to get into, because it just muddies the water.

So let's focus on the first group of quotes. Why are they saying those things?

What's wrong with the swindle video. No space, you need to read the links.

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/climate_change/article2355956.ece

"...an analysis of the evidence it used shows the film was riddled with distortions and errors."

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/03/swindled/

"...stated that volcanic emissions of CO2 far exceeded those from human activity. Annual emissions from volcanoes are only 1% of the amount emitted by humans." Correct. Actual data:

http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/climate_effects.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Climate_Change_Attribution.png

"Pure Propaganda"

http://www.medialens.org/alerts/07/0313pure_propaganda_the.php

Channel 4 doesn't believe it.

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/G/great_global_warming_swindle/expert.html

Takes you to a mainstream scientist who believes man is mostly responsible.

Back to my question, please.

Answer 1

i think i answered this before so i wont bore you again with the whole story

here is a link to my opinion
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ag9fBnEZFiA7P9.0Sb8D19Hsy6IX?qid=20070329211641AADhU9Q&show=7#profile-info-J2rQdYSOaa

too many incidents ,too many Natural disasters ,too many people already dead .too much arable lands lost ,too many threats to the world of our children .and too many people with their heads in the sand ,will they become aware when their a*s is on fire ,somehow i doubt it

i guess their focus is on heaven and getting there
they forget that they have to die first ,and they may get there wish,

we on the other hand would like to enjoy our paradise whilst still alive ,
so friends of the earth unite maybe we can battle the gods together .

Answer 2

Bob, Bob slow down. All your list contains is the uninformed opinion of a bunch of politicians and CEOs who have positioned their companies to take advantage of man-caused global warming FEARS.

As a skeptic I'll stipulate that the Earth has warmed a couple of degrees in the past 150 years. So what? It still isn't as warm as it was almost 1,000 years ago in the Medieval Warm Period. Temperatures cycle. Get used to it. Twenty five years ago the FEAR was global cooling and the impending ice age. This followed about 35 years of cooling starting after the warm period in the mid-1930s (warmer than now, by the way). Incidentally, most of the current warming since the 1850's occurred BEFORE 1940. You can't correlate CO2 emissions with temperature changes and that's a simple fact.

Oh! Your question: A famous line in All The President's Men attributed to Deep Throat was "follow the money". Your answer lies therein.

Answer 3

Have you ever heard of something called public relations? Besides, If I were to say such and such a CEO does not believe in global warming you would laugh at me and say what do they know they are not scientists.

But this is typical global warming rhetoric. Others agree so you should agree also; therefore, you should not question the science.

Lets face it, the documentary "the great global warming swindle" is to us what the "the inconvenient truth" is to you. If you want to convince us start telling us what is wrong with the video.

Answer 4

It's real, there are about a kazillion more cars on the planet
than there were a couple decades ago.
Another factor is that Bush is letting huge corporations get
away with polluting our rivers & streams.
Another indication is the decline in the polar bear poputation.
Pictures of the polar ice caps, 10 years ago compared
with recent photo's are undeniable proof.
Also, there has been an abnormal amount of tornados
within the past months.

I have seen scientists do stories on global changes on PBS.
I wish I would have kept a list of their names, just for
questions like this.

Even if people are skepitical, I still can't see why they
would be against cleaning up the planet. There are
future generations who would greatly appreciate us for
our concern.

Answer 5

I also noticed that no scientists are in the list, but I think that is the point you are making. We can all read what the scientists have to say, and the evidence is quite clear on the onset of global warming. I always say that we don't have to convince the skeptics because the environment will convince them soon enough.

If I warn you that a bear is near our camp because I see bear tracks, you can believe me or not, but it doesn't change the facts.

Answer 6

Is there any proof that it is necessarily caused by humans? No? That's unfortunate. I don't know why some people do the crazy **** they do, but it definitely happens, and that's about all I can say for that group of individuals.

That said, we certainly need to reduce our carbon emissions, merely because we can think of something better, faster, and/or cheaper. (With nuclear energy, we already have, but nobody seems to want a generator...)

Answer 7

I noticed...not one scientist in that list

Kinda supports the "it's a political thing" huh?


saw you added scientists...

try listening to these scientists though....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XttV2C6B8pU

I know it won't change your mind, nor will you change anyones on here...Kinda makes the point of asking the question pointless.

I'd personally like to see the environment catagory moved to the politics group or given it's own catagory so I don't have to see the same stupid question posted every ten minutes by eco nuts thinking that posting on yahoo answers will somehow change the world...it's getting old and tired...

Excuse me now I have to go burn down a forest so I can flush out some spotted owls for target practice. (I'm joking)

Answer 8

it's real because I just read a few days ago that the average mean temp un the US is 2/10 th of a degree warmer than it was 150 yrs ago !

Answer 9

Because each side of the argument has a fair few supporters.

You could probably have figured that out yourself to be honest...

Answer 10

Could it possibly for political or economic gain?