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 Changing Climate
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Global climate change due to increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases is a controversial issue. We need to talk about the scientific basis for greenhouse climate change and its likely impacts on society. Let's discuss some of the controversy over global warming, the arguments about policy measures to deal with climate change, and some of the economic, philosophical and ethical considerations. Let's address actions by individuals, communities, industries and governments to address global warming.
Recent quotes on global warming:
- Senator James Inhofe (R, Oklahoma), Chair, Senate Environment and Public Works Comm., in a speech to the US Senate on Jan 4, 2005 called the threat of catastrophic global warming the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people."
- "British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a speech on 14 Sept 2004 "I want to concentrate on what I believe to be the world's greatest environmental challenge: climate change."
- Governor Schwarzenegger from California on global warming in June 2005 "We know the science. We see the threat posed by changes in our climate. The time for action is now."
Are they really all talking about the same thing?
3 Comments
Add CommentBernard Haisch wrote:
A California law requires the state to reduce global warming emissions from new cars and trucks by 30 percent by 2016. The best and fastest way to achieve this goal would be for automakers to build cars burning less gasoline, that is cars with a higher number of miles per gallon. It is legal for states to exceed federal standards if they get approval from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. California has applied for and received 40 such waivers in the past 30 years, but EPA, with approval from the White House, has announced it will not issue a waiver for the latest emission standard. The state has taken its case to court. But EPA's attitude does make it clear that Bush does not take global warming seriously, which puts him out of step with the overwhelming body of evidence accepted by the scientific community, the leaders of most other nations, and, now, by American voters in ever-increasing numbers.
Marsha Sims wrote:
The contrast could not be more striking: Every Democratic candidate for president has put forward an aggressive package of policies and statements addressing global warming and has made it a cornerstone of their campaign. Of the Republicans, just one, John McCain, comes close to matching the Democrats' fervor for the issue. The GOP contenders focus instead on policies aimed at achieving energy independence — a goal that dates to the energy crisis of the 1970s. The contrast in this primary season reflects an ongoing divide in the nation. Twice as many Democrats as Republicans say the environment will be a very important factor in their vote this year, according to a survey conducted in October for the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.
Joakim Lindblom wrote:
Irrespective of specific pro/con data exists w.r.t. climate change, the one irrefutable statistic that sticks in my mind is that the atmospheric composition of CO2 has increased 50% of the past 150 years or so, a higher concentration than the planet has seen over the past 800,000 plus years. This fact alone should be cause for major concern.