the constant skeptic

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As you probably have noticed when reading my previous posts on global warming, I usually post references and excerpts from other articles, but I let the readers form their own conclusions without any interference from me.

Well, the time has come to let my opinion be known, and I hope to be frank and direct concerning my beliefs on the subject. I am also very interested in any opinions my readers have, since this has become a very politicized issue as of late.

First Things First: What’s in a name?

I may be going out on a limb right off the get go but, I believe that the term “global warming” is really a misnomer. What we are dealing with is global climate change. This change in terminology is not for any nefarious purpose, it is not spin-doctoring, it is just an attempt to clarify a complicated and often misunderstood concept. I have found through my research that how you refer to an issue affects to a certain degree how you think about the issue, so the correct name for a specific phenomena is very important.

Global climate change is always occurring, it is perpetually in motion, and it would take place even if humans never existed on this planet.

Yes, Antarctica will be ice free at some point in the future. I say buy some vacation property now…. the only thing that will keep people from moving there is a small tidbit of information that it just happens to be the windiest place on Earth.

In general terms, the earth goes through long periods of cooling and warming, and this (according to the latest consensus) is a cyclical phenomenon. In fact, by all accounts, we should have entered the next ice age circa 1970 or so. The main problem that scientists are dealing with now is why we haven’t…. since we obviously are not in an ice age, we must be having some effect on our climate, but to what degree is the question.

The ultimate questions to answer: (if anyone can answer these questions conclusively, then we have our global climate change issue solved)

1. How much of an effect has the industrial revolution and the current petroleum dependant world system had on the climate?

2. Can we measure a single person’s affect on the climate? (like measuring our ‘energy footprint’ but in terms of how much we are causing the Earth to get warmer)

3. Can we prove beyond a doubt that we have gone beyond the ‘tipping point’ and that whatever we do to mitigate the effects of global warming it is too late to do anything about it? (some scientists believe that even if we stop all CO2 output right now, we are still doomed to suffer the consequences of our decadent energy consumption lifestyles)

So, some interesting questions to ponder. Our fair leader, President Bush has stated time and time again that there is not enough evidence yet that global warming is taking place as a result of human activity. What do you think?

If you read this far, you might as well comment and let me know what you think. I am actually hoping for a debate on this issue because maybe I have missed something in my research and I would love to add to my knowledge on this issue.

Scaremongering at its best:

Further Reading:

scientific data on global climate change

nature.org research