Question on global warming?

Question

Do you think we can stop it?

Answer 1

NO.
In order to stop something intentionally you must know the cause. This is not the case with GW.
But is GW a bad thing?

Answer 2

No, and the latest measurements show that it's not really warming after all. If you keep up with news from NASA you'd know what I'm talking about.

NASA has explained that there were mistakes in the temperature measurements and has retracted that 1998 is the hottest year in measured history. Turns out it's 1934.

Not only is global warming not happening, but even if it were, it's not caused by humans and so we have no way of stopping it.

Besides, when the planet goes through warming cycles, it's actually beneficial to life on the planet.

Answer 3

Sure. Not immediately, of course. First of all, it will take time to reconfigure our energy production and second, CO2 doesn't leave the atmosphere for decades.

The key is twofold--first, making efficient use of energy, and second, changing to alternative means of producing energy and away from coal and oil.

The big myth--and the chief obstacle to really getting progress unerway--is that there is a lot of misunderstanding about what this means to the average person. Y/A is not the place to try to cover everything, so I'll jsut give a few examples:

a) energy conservation means sacrifice: FALSE. For example, energy saving light bulbs actually save money (for me, about $100/yr). A fuel efficient car saves consumers money--and the choice is not between an expensive hybrid and a gas hog. On average, American cars get 17 mpg. but there are plenty that get 25-26 mpg now. That's a 1/3 cut in fuel costs.

b)enrgy conservation hurts business. FALSE. Lets take the proposed bill to require that 17mpg to be improved to 34 mpg over the next ten years. Automakers are complaining it will put them at a disadvantage against imports. This is pure nonsense--the imports have to meet the same standard--so its a level playing field. If the auto companies can't cut it, it won't be becasue of the requirement to improve fuel efficiency.

c) electric cars aren't practical. FALSE. The only basic difference is tha they have shorter range--which isn't a major factor for the kind of short-range urban driving most people do.

D) there's no really cost effective alternative to coal and oil. This one used to have some validity. Not any more. Solar energy costs have dropped by half in the last5-7 years--and there is a whole range of evenless costly systems on the way.

Finally--don't make the mistake of looking at these points in isolation. You can point out "flaws" in each one. But only if you take them in isolation fromone another. What will work is a comprehensive reworking of our energy production/use systems--with a variety of solutions addressing diferent problems and needs.

Think f it thisway-coal and oil arre basically 19th century technology. Its time we modernized. But--will it solve global warming?

YES. Eliminate coal and oil use and you get rid of the primary cause. There's other things we need to do--but that's the big one. Deal with it-and the rest, while important--is relatively easy.

Answer 4

Global warming is very real. I am a temperature specialist and it is shocking to see what we do to the environment in the name of economy. This planet maintains our lives and quality of all life on the planet.

Every time we chop down a tree, you should see the heat generation in the area...i.e...cutblocks are considered to be responsible logging practices, no one considered the UV impact after the fact. It was a 5 degree C day and the area where they stripped the forest was 40 degrees C. Buildings are really cooking and functioning outside design temperature.

Ride a bike or public transit, think of the vehicles on the roads and the poison from their exhaust. The emissions from cars are getting into pregnant moms and babies don't have the immune system to protect themselves.

Use functional landscaping instead of air conditioning. Building exteriors need light paint colors, shade or UV resistant coatings.

Recycle, don't litter, be involved because this is going to be your problem soon as a younger person. Educate people about environment because it is your health on the line.

NASA has to do with areas other than emission production and they are limited in their thermal interpretation

Answer 5

Yes we can but we need to be very careful when we start trying to take control of the climate.

Several schemes have been suggested to slow down, stop or even reverse global warming. Some of these have already been tested on a small scale and shown to achieve the desired effects. Implemented on a large scale they could stop global warming.

Such schemes are known as geoengineering or climate engineering, most of them adopt one of tgwo approaches - removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere or reducing the amount of heat we receive from the sun.

We're not in a position (yet) where we can stop GW simply by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and cutting our greenhouse gas emissions. To do so using this apporach would mean making such drastic cuts that it would be like taking a step back in time to the 1800's.

Some of the geoengineering ideas formed part of a BBC documentary 'Five Ways To Save The World' you can read more about them on the BBC Website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/6298507.stm watch the programme trailer http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6360000/newsid_6364700/6364731.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm or watch the programme in full from Google Video http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=286000425078890061

There's a summary of 8 such schemes here - http://profend.com/global-warming/pages/combat.html#4

Answer 6

Yes global warming is starting I mean look at the news!!!

Answer 7

We can slow it sufficiently as to avoid the worst effects of global warming, but it will take considerable effort. Scientists estimate that we need approximately an 80% reduction in worldwide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This will take an organized international effort.

We can do it, but the question is whether or not we have the will to do it.

Answer 8

the only way to stop global warming is to reduce pollution by using the car less and use your bike or the subway because the subway is electric

Answer 9

Global warming is a part of a natural cycle called the iceage. How does anything man does compare in any way?

Answer 10

No. The Global warming thing is a hoax. The earth hasn't evened warmed up 1 degree, besides, I remember when we had global cooling.

Answer 11

Yes, and no. We can't stop it because it is inevitable, but we can slow it down back to its modest warming cycle.