Global Warming Questions

by Shauna
(Westminster, Colorado USA)

I Have a list of global warming questions:

1. What are your thoughts on global warming? Does it exist? How serious do you think it is?

2. What signs is the weather showing that could mean that our climate is changing?

3. What do you think have been the big factors that have raised red flags to scientists that this is becoming a potentially large problem?

4. How are scientists researching the issue?

5. How can people help stop/change the problem?

6. What could possibly happen to Earth’s climate in the future if nothing changes?

7. Do you think people are in denial about global warming? Why?

8. What do you think are some common misconceptions about global warming?

Barry's Response

Loaded questions.

1. Global warming - is it serious? It can be. Even though we think we know a few things, no one knows what the ramifications will be. You've probably heard some of these before. Climate change is mostly known for the rising of sea-levels and flooding coastal cities. It's expensive. I think it's permanent. Has it happened suddenly? Not like Hurricane Katrina. We've got a few decades to move. Like the song says, buy that ocean front property in Arizona.

2. Evidence. Global warming can explain anything interesting. Maybe they're right. Katrina, for instance, but not tsunamis. Is there anyone who knows for sure who's right? Norms and deviations are everything. Things like this happen all the time. It seems like these deviations are getting bigger and bigger. Yeah, we're better at witnessing, right?

3. We need to change how we produce and consume energy to stop global warming. Some fuels warm the planet and it can have serious economic and political repercussions. This problem needs to be solved by us, our governments, corporations, and individuals (i.e., innovators and entrepreneurs). Some industries use and produce carbon-based fuels that make it hard for the government to stop global warming. Governments may not be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as effectively as they should. Then again, can governments do anything effectively? Maybe it's up to corporations to take responsibility and contribute to solutions. Companies have a big opportunity when it comes to global warming. Carbon emissions have already been reduced by some companies, but powerful industries might not. Everyone can help by being aware of their consumption habits and speaking up. With the right effort, a better future is possible.

4. Research - We've been tracking it for decades. At most points and elevations, you can measure the temperature. They've changed slowly but steadily over the last century. These changes are compared to past centuries, millennia, eons, etc. Also, we've tracked atmospheric CO2 (and other greenhouse gases). There's a lot of data on the internet. Some of it is valuable. There's a good overview on Wikipedia. Start here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming

5. Maybe you're assuming people caused it if you ask how they can stop it. They can't be involved. Geological cycles and astronomical cycles also affect our climate (see https://www.stuffintheair.com/Blowin_in_the_Wind-milankovitch-cycles-climate.html ).

6. If nothing changed, Earth wouldn't be Earth. We'd all die without dynamic nature in our ecosystem. What if anthropogenic climate change continues (maybe that's what you're asking for)? Other than the changes already happening, maybe nothing. There might be a lot. We don't want to know. It doesn't seem like there's much choice. See how well they listen if they march around an active volcano with their "stop global warming" signs, regardless of what activists say.

7. What's the point of denial? There are a lot of people in denial about it. There are other people who know a lot about it. There are a lot of people who claim to know a lot but don't. How do they differ?

8. Examples of misinformation: It's not happening. It won't be as bad as it seems. It'll be worse than it really is. It's gonna happen. There's something we can do. There's nothing we can do. There's no hope.

There you go! It was hard to get through this without belittling Al Gore.

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