So what's going on with the environment right now?

[DoW Lowen]

If this thread belongs in the politics section, mods please move.

I know climate change is an issue, I live in Australia and I can see the effects at the south beaches where the shore is now at a few people's door steps. The weather is definitely changing.

But what's going on with Global warming? I know a few countries have retracted their ICPP protocols (not sure where I read that), is it still believed to be man made. I tried to read it up on google and other websites and they're all giving me mixed messages. Global warming is real says one, it is just a political scam says another, the results are withheld says another.

I'm trying to absorb all the information, but I realized just once I'd like a simple, cohesive and concise answer.

Would anyone be kind enough to share?

 

[crimson5pheonix]

Information from people is still conflicting. I believe that man has a minimal effect on global climate, but there will be somebody here soon to dispute my claim.

 

[YouCallMeNighthawk]

well they're saying the world is going to heat up because of global warming, well i say .... hurry the fuck up! it's cold in england i want some good weather! lol

In my personal opinion i think global warming is happening but they are over exagerating how bad it is.

 

[rezboyjoey]

Dude...there is no such thing as a simple, cohesive, and concise answer. Every person has a different oppinion based on some study done by a person biased towards whoever is giving them the most money to provide the results they want. Really thats all this debate is anymore, a way for douchebags to make money off the herd mentality of the general public.

Besides, everyone knows the only way to solve global warming once and for all is to blow up the sun. That'll teach it for making brocoli grow.

Edit: Really though this is one of those issues where you are either a flamboyant hippie douche or a nazi who rapes pandas depending on which side of the issue you take. People like me who think that those on both extremes of the issue are @#$%ing shallow minded idiots in it for greed and profit are immediately slandered by both sides because we're a threat to their money.

If anyone were to propose a simple compromise like "We are the caretakers and guardians of this planet and we need to make sure that we don't abuse what we have been given but really all this talk about human carbon polution is a load of shit and whoever thought up 'carbon credits' should be shot" they would immediately be laughed or slandered out of the room just like I can't help feeling that I'm about to be...

 

[iLikeHippos]

It's soon the beginning of April, and we in Sweden still have a lot of snow to melt away.
I can't remember those things happening before when I was younger - All snow used to be completely gone at the beginning of March.

Still, I'm going to believe in those... Oh what was the number... 50.000 scientists who say that Global Warming is FAKE?

Despite the real number, it's more reliable to me than a POLITICIAN, which I personally have lost all faith to and think they should be replaced by monkeys. Much more effectiveness and reason. And probably less greed.

 

[DoW Lowen]

So are people just saying that it's the natural warming and cooling cycle of the earth?

 

[BonsaiK]

Information from people is still conflicting. I believe that man has a minimal effect on global climate, but there will be somebody here soon to dispute my claim.

Rhode Island is flooded for the first time in a century. The ozone is being ripped apart. That isn't normal.

Actually since humans stopped using chloroflurocarbons in refrigerators and as aerosol propellant and switched to safer hydrocarbons, the ozone has replenished itself significantly.

Weather patters have always been unpredictable. Rhode Island flooded for the first time in a century? That means it must have flooded a century ago. You can't point to just one (or even a few) weather pattern(s) and say "there - look - global warming is/isn't happening, see?".

I'm trying to absorb all the information, but I realized just once I'd like a simple, cohesive and concise answer.

There's little doubt that the Earth is heating up. What isn't precisely known is how much human activity has to directly do with the heating, and how much it would change if we did things differently. There are so many inter-relating factors to consider that even the scientists studying it have a hard time interpreting the data involved and what it all means. Because of this, there's a lot of bravado on both sides of the environment debate and very few concrete answers. Having said that, I'm all for a cleaner, healthier environment whether it helps the warming/cooling situation or not.

And yes, this thread belongs in Religion and Politics.

 

[Marine Mike]

I suggest you go read the book "State of Fear" by Michael Crichton, its all about the global warming "crisis" and how its just a huge media hype. Like all of his books he includes a lot of extensive research on the subject and very enlightening.

 

[Doitpow]

Information from people is still conflicting. I believe that man has a minimal effect on global climate, but there will be somebody here soon to dispute my claim.

Rhode Island is flooded for the first time in a century. The ozone is being ripped apart. That isn't normal.

The ozone has nothing to do with global warming. the ozone stops UV rays, global warming is caused by greenhouse gases increasing.

I suggest you go read the book "State of Fear" by Michael Crichton, its all about the global warming "crisis" and how its just a huge media hype. Like all of his books he includes a lot of extensive research on the subject and very enlightening.

God I love his work. I love his other one, you know where they resurrect dinosaurs, it's really well researched, should be happening any day soon.

 

[StarofAzura]

It's soon the beginning of April, and we in Sweden still have a lot of snow to melt away.
I can't remember those things happening before when I was younger - All snow used to be completely gone at the beginning of March.

Still, I'm going to believe in those... Oh what was the number... 50.000 scientists who say that Global Warming is FAKE?

Despite the real number, it's more reliable to me than a POLITICIAN, which I personally have lost all faith to and think they should be replaced by monkeys. Much more effectiveness and reason. And probably less greed.

"Global warming" is a misnomer. "Climate change" is more accurate.

Water circulates in the North Atlantic. The really cold, salty stuff at the top sinks, and that acts like a pump, which pulls warm water north, which is how we get the winter weather we have.

However, more melting ice + more rain caused by global warming means that cold water isn't sinking fast enough, the warm water isn't getting pumped north, which means colder temperatures.

There are other things I could mention, but the basis of this post is that cold weather doesn't necessarily mean that global warming is fake. Don't believe in it for other reasons if you must, but there is science behind the recently cold weather. It's acted more as proof for global warming than against.

 

[Animated Rope]

Since no one have mentioned it yet. There is also this argument floating around that we're running an experiment on planet earth. That is: "Can we really afford assuming global warming isn't caused by us?"

But if you ask me, we're running out of oil eventually anyway so...

 

[Danny Ocean]

Yes, I think it's in no small part due to us.

Besides, even if it isn't, these renewable technologies are still very much worth investing in.

 

[BonsaiK]

Since no one have mentioned it yet. There is also this argument floating around that we're running an experiment on planet earth. That is: "Can we really afford assuming global warming isn't caused by us?"

But if you ask me, we're running out of oil eventually anyway so...

The fossil fuels running out thing is probably going to do a lot of good for the global warming situation. We'll be eventually forced to switch to renewables whether we like it or not.

 

[crimson5pheonix]

I have a distinct feeling that this debate really got started when several scientists were standing around and said "Hey look there, what if this was linked to this which was linked to this?" and some random person overheard that part and took it out of context. I don't know about you, but I'd find it funny.

 

[DoW Lowen]

So Global warming probably isn't real, but we should act like it is? You know, just in case.

 

[AfterAscon]

A vast majority of scientists believe that 'global warming' is man-made*, these a people much more informed than our-selves and politicians. All because a vocal minority claim something does not mean it is true. Yours and my opinion does not matter in this debate. Public opinion is preventing progress, people should be listening to be with the knowledge that matters (not governments). It?s similar to when one doctor claimed there to be a link between measles vaccinations and autism (which was bollocks), the damage it caused by convincing parents not to get their kids vaccinated was stupid and unnecessary.

Also regardless of global warming the world should be trying to go down the green route anyway. The benefits it holds will greatly improve people?s lifestyles, reduce smog in cities, cleaner and fresher air, and it removes the reliance from oil.

*http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5702/1686

 

[Lazy Kitty]

Global warming's just natural, but humanity speeds it up.

Also, it's kinda normal since were still not entirely out of the ice age...
[sup]An ice age is a period of time were there are ice caps.[/sup]

 

[LongAndShort]

whether or not man is causing global warming does not change the fact that we are fucking up the environment. And I like the environment so we need to change.

 

[GAME OV3R]

i think it's quite funny that the planet's supposed to be heating up and yet here in Britain we've just had the coldest winter in over 40 years