Global Warming

Quote:

"The evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now and is a growing threat to society," the AAAS said at its annual meeting.

"Scientists are observing the rapid melting of glaciers, destabilization of major ice sheets, rising sea levels, shifts in species ranges and increased frequency of weather extremes," said John P. Holdren, director of the Woods Hole Research Center and AAAS president.

Concern focuses on carbon dioxide and other gases produced by burning fossil fuels and other processes. As these gases accumulate in the atmosphere they trap heat from the sun, much like a greenhouse, warming the climate.

"The longer we wait to tackle climate change, the harder and more expensive the task will be," the group said.

Holdren noted that some of the most dramatic changes are occurring in the far North where warming has occurred more rapidly than in other areas. Retreating sea ice and rising sea level are driving some natives from their villages, the group said.

On Feb. 2 the Intergovernmental Panel in Climate Change reported that global warming is so severe that it will "continue for centuries," leading to a far different planet in 100 years.

The panel, established by the United Nations, concluded that global warming is "very likely" caused by man, meaning more than 90 percent certain.

If nothing is done to change current emissions patterns of greenhouse gases, global temperature could increase as much as 11 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100, the report said.

Yeah, i know, it's not really new news, but this subject is slowly turning in to more and more of a serious issue, so I thought i'd raise the question(s):

What would you do in an effort to help prevent global warming? Or do you think we're screwed anyways and it wouldn't do a thing if you didin't drive your truck with a 30 litre hemi in it every day?

Personally, I hardly drive myself to school. I take transit instead. It cuts down on the number of cars on the road, and it saves me the gas money.

I'm interested to hear your opinions.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by RacinReaver

Also, are people allowed to believe in climate change without thinking it's caused by humans, or are those two always grouped together by people like abiogenesis and evolution?

Without a doubt. There were some theories about a "solar max". A few years ago, it was believed that the sun was more unstable than usual, causing it to spew more surface flares, therefore heating the earth more. However, I can hardly believe that a few extra flare activities on the sun could cause such drastic changes on the Earth.

It was also thought that the methane emissions from cows was a major contributor to global warming, but that may be pushing it a bit. I'm sure the greenhouse gases from vehicles are far more prominent that cow flatulance.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Paper Crane

Vehicles are not the number 1 offender. That is held by manufacturing plants. Thats why it is more damaging to throw out an old fridge for an energy efficient one. The pollution not caused by the saving of energy is greatly outweighed by the pollution caused to make a new fridge. In fact you have to keep a refrigerator for at least 10 years for it to be environmentally more efficient than you previous one.

Yes, manufacturing plant do produce more greenhouse gases than vehicles, but I was comparing them to cows instead.

And we've had our fridge for a good 10 years, and it's still going strong. It's nice to know that i'm helping the environment a little.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Gechmir

I fail to see how a few degrees change over 100s of years would equate to human apocalypse.

See, that's what always confused me. What about those minor "warming" periods or "cooling" periods that we tend to get, or experienced in the past. For all we know, it could just be nature's way, and before we know it, we could be blaming car emissions for causing global cooling.

We're definitely not helping the cause, but a few degrees here and there is probably not much to fret about in the long term.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?