Global Warming... it is wrong

By being environmentally UNfriendly, we are causing global warming, making our planet less nicer and more dirtier. STOP GLOBAL WARMING!

 

There really is no concrete proof though that global warming is not a natural occurence. The planet does go through cycles of varying climate.
How do you propose we stop global warming? Do we even know for sure what causes it?

 

you are contributing to global warming by using your computer.

 

Y'all really going to have a hard time convincing me (a Canadian) that global warming is a bad thing.

It is -7C outside with a half foot of snow on the ground.

It's fricken freezing!!

 

You're correct that it does...but if the current period of global warming is naturally occuring, it is the sharpest spike in temperature in the last hundred thousand years. The odds of that coinciding with the Industrial Revolution are small enough that I think it's extremely unlikely that global warming is naturally occuring.

Scientists have a pretty good idea of what causes it now. Stopping it is indeed a difficult matter, and I'm of the opinion that it can't or won't be done in the near future. Global warming is (rightly so) at the bottom of the world's government's list of priorities, because there are many other ways in which we can do more good per dollar.

 

I'll admit I don't know much about it, besides a little from what I've read, but the main thing I've seen from reading, is it seems it's a bit to late to really do anything to stop it.

 

Well it's never too late to stop FUTURE damage...but the logistics of actually stopping it would be so expensive and take so long that it simply is not worth it in my opinion.

Maybe in a few decades, we'll have the technology to cheaply stop and reverse global warming, but for now I think we'd better get used to a warmer world.

 

I watched an interesting program about global dimming which is where all the polution, etc, which is created gradually rises into the atmosphere and into clouds. These clouds reflect the suns heat, etc, back into space and away from the earth counteracting global warming. And that is a proven fact. Some research was being taken when the september the 11th disaster happened and as you know America grounded all flights for a few days. During those few days the temperature rose by a degree or 2. This was because the vapour trails from aeroplanes were not contributing to global dimming and so global warming was increased. When the planes started flying again the temperature went back to normal. Imagine what could happen if this happened on a larger scale, eg, and reduction in pollution. Im not saying that we should keep polluting because that will make the air content worse. All im saing is that we are in a difficult situation if we stop polltuting the world will heat up because global dimming will decrease, and if we keep polluting the air content, etc will get worse as will the hole in the ozone. All im saying is that it isn't as simple as stop polluting and it will all be better. What has been done has been done and we cannot change that but to prevent it getting worse in the future is harder than you think. It gave me something to think about, I hope it does for you too. Something should certainly be done but what?

 

http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59663&highlight=global+dimming

 

The thinking now is that everything weve done until this point is going to influence the next 50 or so years. It is vital what happens now. The Kyoto accord is a positive step towards reducing greenhouse emissions, but it will only work if the countries that signed stick to their goals. In Canada we are trying something called the One Tonne challenge, which is the governments effot to get people to voluntarily reduce their personal emissions.

What are you guys doing in the States, hmmm?

Peace

 

I didnt break the planet it was this way when I found it. Besides I hate cold anyway. *rubs on suntan lotion*

 

You're right that global dimming works to counteract global warming...but global dimming is so insignificant compared to global warming that it can't possibly compensate for all of the temperature change.

 

The Kyoto Protocol is a horrible, horrible idea. I'm all for environmentalism when it makes sense, but Kyoto simply does not. It will cost the world's governments BILLIONS of dollars, for very little positive change in the environment. Those billions of dollars could be used to feed the hungry, or fight AIDS, or fight malaria...all of which are very cost-efficient ways of saving lives. No one knows if anyone has ever died as a result of global warming, but the numbers are certainly much smaller than those that have died of hunger or AIDS.

Kyoto is simply a money-waster. If you want to make the world a better place, there are plenty of ways to better spend it than on meeting the obligations of Kyoto.

 

Well, you've certainly been convinced. I refer you again to the last line of my previous post.

Peace

 

By the way, the world spends BILLIONS of dollars on much more destructive things anyways, they might as well:
-try and find alternative energy sources
-inform people to use/waste less energy
-impose restrictions on industries that are causing a shitload of pollution.

Kandahar, do you feel the need to disagree with the majority of the Worlds scientists and all of my Environmental Studies professors? Does it make you feel smarter?

Peace

 

I wholeheartedly agree.

There's a very fine line between restricting industries from dumping all of their crap into the local town's reservoir that could easily be fixed for a few hundred thousand dollars, and restricting industries from carbon emissions that will cost BILLIONS. As I said, I'm all for environmentalism when it makes sense. But very often the initiatives Congress passes or tries to pass do NOT make sense.

I don't understand why you feel so threatened by dissenting opinions. I'm a scientist myself (not an environmental scientist, but I try to keep up to date in most scientific fields). I don't see where I disagreed with the majority of the world's scientists (not to imply that the majority of the world's scientists are infallible either). I'm the first to concede that global warming is a reality and is primarily the result of human meddling. I just have very serious doubts as to the economics of something like Kyoto. Again, there are many more cost-efficient ways to save lives...

Believe it or not, it IS possible to accept scientific explanations for environmental phenomenon, without supporting every knee-jerk environmental law regardless of the economic consequences.

 

uhm.

 

I think that Kyoto Agreement is flawed as it is based on a lot of statistics.To give an example a great deal of bauxite is smelted in Australia and exported to countries like Japan to manufacture into various consumer goods.These goods as well as being exported back to Australia are also exported to other countries.Aluminium smelting requires huge amounts of electricity.

 

I have heard it said that following the kyoto agreement now and continue too till the end of the century .. we will put off the negative effects of 'globabl warming' by about 6 years.. I think collectivly we will spend something like 88 billion dollars every year for the next 100 years .. saving the inevitable by 6 years.. then giving that its 2005 say its 2105 and the effects are upon us ..we will then be spending 250 billion dolars collectively every year on combating the effects.. The poor will still probably be poor and widespread disease will still be widespread.. we will still have too be paying 250 billion plus continuing to try and help a even bigger population under even worse enviromental damage . We simply won't have enough monety to go around.

Spend these billions getting poverty sorted .. spend billions combating malaryia/aids and all the other killers spend billions now bringing third world countries into at least poor eastern european standards or better on a par with us richer nations.. thus come 100 years time these third world counties will be rich enough to be part of the collective and for the sake of 6 years ..it will be worth it.. IMHO by 2105 trade etc etc will be more evenly distributed through out the world..their by, we will ALL have the opportunity to concentrate on enviromental issues .. heck things might not be as bad as predicted ...

More people die of cold than heat.. let it get a bit hotter

 

It's maybe not the warming that is such a problem but all that blasted pollution... Mother earth can only do so much.
And yes it's a massive spike in temp. rise and guess what always follows?
A whopping great ice age. really soon after - like 50 years after.
I'm all for stopping it getting any higher and trying to sustain it somhow. Dunno how though.