Is there scientific proof human activity contributes enough to global warming to make any difference ? It seems you have to prove that first, rather than disprove it is not.Yes there is proof. 1 degree f increase global T average/century since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. The change is a fact. Then you look for the cause, identify possible suspects, and knock them out, one by one, until there is only one possible cause left standing: anthropogenic-induced global warming through the burning of fossil fuels. As Sherlock says, "It's elementary, my dear Watson!"
Disproving a negative is always a fairly impossible chore.
If there is no proof, you have to weigh and balance the risks, as in any other human endeavor. Originally Posted by VitaMan
Good point oil. There are phases in earth's history much warmer than today or even 100 years from now. While that's true, do we really want to live in such conditions, if we have a say in the matter? (We do. It's called give up fossil fuels, and even natural gas.)what are we going to use to replace oil with?
This period in the history of the world will be dominated by man. We have quite an impact in an extremely short time frame, geologically speaking. Originally Posted by pxmcc
what are we going to use to replace oil with? Originally Posted by aznlvr11Sunlight and water would be good.
Yes there is proof. 1 degree f increase global T average/century since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. The change is a fact. Then you look for the cause, identify possible suspects, and knock them out, one by one, until there is only one possible cause left standing: anthropogenic-induced global warming through the burning of fossil fuels. As Sherlock says, "It's elementary, my dear Watson!"Sir, You say above that ALL factors are ruled out, except 'man made'. Can't be fucking serious. Nature will do what it wants, regardless if we burn some oil or coal. To think we can alter the whole Earth's climate is.. self serving on a level that is borderline ludicrous.
By the way, each year, we beat last year's record for highest average global temp since recorded history. (Has it been hotter before in earth's history? Yes, but not recently.)
When I knew we had a problem? When 40 steps, on the North Shore of Boston, in a peninsula called Nahant from the industrial leather town of Lynn, went from perpetually nuts-shrinking cold to feeling like a bathtub. "Umm, Houston, we have a slight problem." I could stay in this water all day. Somethin aint right. Originally Posted by pxmcc
Sir, You say above that ALL factors are ruled out, except 'man made'. Can't be fucking serious. Nature will do what it wants, regardless if we burn some oil or coal. To think we can alter the whole Earth's climate is.. self serving on a level that is borderline ludicrous.Sig, things don't "just happen." If the planet is warming up, it must be due to some cause. Can you cite a single peer-reviewed article in a serious science journal that suggests that the cause of global warming could be something other than the burning of fossil fuels? I'm a nerd; if you send me a link, I'll read it and give you my honest take.
There is no evidence man can effect the temperature with greenhouse gases. Your ilk now wants to regulate and tax carbon dioxide. It is a naturally occurring part of out life cycle here and we cannot exist without it. Yet the Prius and Chevy Volt makers have a fucking moron with a lab coat telling you your're killing the planet and your grandchildren if you don't park your Tahoe and get on board. How fucking gullible are you? They are making millions of your naiveté.
The planet gets warmer and the planet gets cooler. The planet did just fine with the ice ages, pole polarity reversals, comets, meteors, etc. It's called nature. While glaciers are melting in the North Pole, ice is being formed at a fervent pace in the south.
To quote George Carlin "The planet's fine... we're fucked." We have nothing to do with it. for Christ's sakes. Originally Posted by Sig9er