If we do everything Al Gore and other environmentalists suggest, will there still be global warming?

Answer 1

Global warming is so well under way that nothing will instantly stop it.

Part of global warming MAY be due to non-human factors (natural cycles); these cycles have left their mark in fossils and other evidence (e.g., isotopes in layers of ice cores) and were present well before humans started influencing their environment. So our efforts may be unable to stop all of it.

However, the speed at which the world is warming up appears to be accelerated (compared to "natural" warming cycles) by the stuff that we throw in our air. The equation is (relatively) simple:

We get so many Watts of energy from the Sun. To maintain equilibrium, the Earth must send out the exact same amount back in space. It does so by reflecting some of it back to space without letting it heat up the planet (about 37%, mostly from ground snow and clouds); it also becomes warmer until it "glows" (in infrared) so that the required amount of Watts is sent back into space.

One problem is that some gasses (a.k.a. greenhouse gasses) slow down the rate at which infrared light escapes to space. Therefore the Earth has to get warmer to crank up the number of watts being emitted in infrared.

A warmer Earth = less snow = less reflection = more Watts absorbed from the Sun = hotter Earth = (and so on). These trends have a way of amplifying themselves.

If global warming occurs too fast, we won't have time to adapt. We do not know, for example, which regions of the world will be able to grow food "5 degrees" from now. Or how we will move billions of people from regions that may become flooded once the land glaciers begin to thaw (which has already begun).

We need time to adapt and, at best, what we can do is buy some time.

Answer 2

Most likely. The other answers are correct. The only thing I'd say is that MOST of the rise in global temperature is due to natural cycles. The national academy of sciences actually issued a report on a "global COOLING crisis" (oh, the irony) in the 70s. The report said:

"The climates of the earth have always been changing, and they will doubtless continue to do so in the future. How large these future changes will be, and where and how rapidly they will occur, we do not know.."

Personally, humans give themselves WAY too much credit. If we had the power to "destroy the earth," we would've wiped it out thousands of years ago. Sure, you an recycle and shouldn't be wasteful; but if you decide to drive a hybrid or buy carbon footprints (what a scam) so you don't pollute the Earth, you're fooling yourself. It won't make a difference.

Answer 3

Probably. I feel very strongly for reasons too numerous to mention here that global warming has been occurring for thousands of years and natural processes are still a major factor in the global warming presently occurring. But that doesn't mean that global warming will or would necessarily continue into the future indefinitely or even for a predictable period of time. Clearly if all carbon emissions stopped now, it would still take a while for the natural balance to be re-established (meaning that if you believe CO2 emissions are the main source of global warming, do not expect it to stop right away no matter what we do).

Answer 4

Absolutely yes..! Global warming is a *natural* phenomenon that has occurred innumerable times over Earth's 4-billion year history. Science has proven that. The current cycle is a natural event that no matter what we do or don't do is still going to happen. However, mankind *appears* to be accelerating the current cycle, and maybe even causing it to be more severe. The bottom line, though, is that we can *not* stop it from happening altogether. One report I've read states that for our civilization to have *any* effect on global warming we'd have to cut back our pollution production by at least 90%, and that by itself would certainly do as much damage to civilization as if we didn't do anything.

Answer 5

Yes. But there will be a huge difference.

If we do nothing, there will be major coastal flooding and damage to agriculture. It won't kill us all, but it will be hugely expensive, and some people in poor countries will die, because of food shortages. Details here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL052735320070407
http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM6avr07.pdf

Here's a practical and affordable plan to reduce it enough that things won't be so bad.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,481085,00.html
http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM040507.pdf

Answer 6

of course. They don't know what they're talking about, and the climate changes naturally all the time, with or without human involvement.

Answer 7

sure, global warming isnt that bad though, i mean our planet is tough and the living creatures here are tough no big deal, planet temps vary and theres nothing we can do about it. dont worry.