the global warming issue?

Question

why is it that if the whole world is so bothered about protecting the worlds environment then why didnt the whole world do something about this problem years ago as everyone knew this has been a problem 4 a while

Answer 1

That's a very good question. In fact, scientists first established the links between greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and climate change as far back as 1896. Back then it wasn't so much of a problem but by the middle of the 20th century it was very clear to the scientists that this was going to become a major problem and they bagan warming governments accordingly.

Unfortunately their appeals fell on deaf ears, presumably because the respective Governments didn't want to face up to the facts and address the issue. It took decades of campaigning by the scientists for the first action to be taken (1988 by the UK government).

So, those who've known about the problem have been trying to get something done about it but there wasn't the political inclination to act. It's only now when the consequences are so apparent that governments have realised it can't be ignored any longer.

Answer 2

Not enough has been done to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG's), primarily C02, which would slow global warming. I'm not sure what you mean when you say the world did something about global warming years ago. Sometimes people confuse global warming with the ozone hole issue, which resulted in international treaties mandating the reduction of chemicals responsible for ozone destruction.

You might also be confusing world attention with the infamous Kyoto Protocol. Kyoto was an international agreement made in the 1990's to reduce GHGs in developed nations. However, the United States, the largest contributer of man-made C02, has refused to participate in Kyoto, largley because "developing nations" such as China and India would be exempt.

The problem is getting worse. Scientists estimate that we'll reach a "tipping point" in the next 10-20 years if we as a global community fail to enact meaningful GHG reduction agreements. The tipping point is essentially a "point of no return" for trying to bring carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Answer 3

No one was worried because Global Warming and cooling is a natural cycle. It wasn't until some scientists data came up with the belief that this time it is warming faster and could go higher due to more CO2 in the air.

Another reason is because it is very slow and not very noticeable. The temperature change is like 1-2 degrees every 100 years, so in one persons lifetime it is almost nothing.

We must also remember that not all scientists agree it is due to mans activities. This is good because many more scientists are now studying and researching this theory. We will get more information soon.

Answer 4

Damorg, Bush Jr ranch is Carbon Neutral, Al Gore's mansion is not Carbon Neutral. So the idiots are the hypocrtical Democrats. Oh wait I forgot Bush Jr is Conservative like his good friend Clinton. So it is the Liberals which are Hypocrites. Conservative Democrat and Republicans run this country. Republican and Democrat Liberals whine and compalin about everything.

Answer 5

There's powerful opposition from monied interests heavily invested in fossil fuel technology. On the world stage, that's the USA and Saudi Arabia. It's just like why we don't have fuel efficient cars, or why Edison sought to block the introduction of alternating current: somebody somewhere makes less money if the status quo changes.

Answer 6

It all has to do with greed . Ask the rich why they need so much .Stop picking on us poor people for a change . Take the rich mans riches and teach them how to be good to mother nature before its to late and they kill us all .

Time for a revolution before its to late . We don't need the rich to dictate to us anymore . We need to take those riches and clean up the earth . We are all in this together and the way we have been going just isn't working

Answer 7

Why governments and big business is all of a sudden worried about global warming is that they are using it to scam us consumers out of more money.

Even the press is getting involved. Stories about global warming generate interest. Interest equals a larger audience. A larger audience equals more revenue.

It's all about money, not the environment.

Answer 8

Politics. In order to control the man-made emissions that are accelerating global warming, industry has to be controlled and that means jobs. No politician has the guts to face their electorate if they are threatening, or thought to be threatening, people's jobs.

Answer 9

Because half of them are idiots and don't believe it even exists.

Answer 10

well of course the stupid idiot republicans put it off till now... so the whole world is basically going down the tubes cuz of the Republican Procrastination