Why is climate change bad?

[sacase]

OK bear with me it is 5am. I was thinking about eveyone being up in arms about climate change, but isn't it a natural thing? Could humans actually be going against the natural cycle by trying to prevent climate change? Climate change has been happening for who knows who many hundreds of millions of years. I am quite sure there has been far more CO2 in the air in the past than there is now and the earth has come along rather nicely. People seem to forget that extinction is a natural thing, yeah it is sad but it gives way to newer and stronger species. Perhaps this is the earth's way of regulating species. Maybe the earth is saying.....ok there are to many human's time to get rid of a few billion.

Short of cracking the planet in half or knocking it out of its current orbit, I don't see humans doing any long term damage to the planet.

[Temple]

I am quite sure there has been far more CO2 in the air in the past than there is now and the earth has come along rather nicely.

How do you/could you know this so surely? Any data? Figures?


Perhaps this is the earth's way of regulating species. Maybe the earth is saying.....ok there are to many human's time to get rid of a few billion.

Yea...what're a few billion human lives, more or less? :doh:


Short of cracking the planet in half or knocking it out of its current orbit, I don't see humans doing any long term damage to the planet.

I submit for your review: 2 USGS photographs from Glacier Bay, Alaska. The first is from 1941; the second is taken from the same exact spot in 2004.

http://www.sightline.org/daily_score/images/blog/mn_usgsmuir1941.jpg
http://www.sightline.org/daily_score/images/blog/mn_usgsmuir2004.jpg

[Temple]

Also, if you've got 9 minutes and 33 seconds to spare:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDsIFspVzfI

[robotfire]

Those two pictures don't really prove anything to me. If you could show me more pictures than just the two, and over a longer period of time than 70 years, that would be more meaningful. As it stands, you have presented cherry-picking science. It's not enough data to base a conclusion on.

Disclaimer: I'm not saying I don't believe global warming exists. I just question the evidence you presented.

[PeterMP]

I am quite sure there has been far more CO2 in the air in the past than there is now and the earth has come along rather nicely.
People seem to forget that extinction is a natural thing, yeah it is sad but it gives way to newer and stronger species. Perhaps this is the earth's way of regulating species. Maybe the earth is saying.....ok there are to many human's time to get rid of a few billion.

Short of cracking the planet in half or knocking it out of its current orbit, I don't see humans doing any long term damage to the planet.

First, estimates go back several hundred thousands of years based on ice samples suggest that CO2 is higher now than any other time in the least several hundred thousand of years.

Second, if you don't think millions (if not more) of humans dying is a bad thing, then I guess you are right, but I think most people think that would be a bad thing (not that I'm saying millions of people will die from global warming, but just your idea).

[The_cavalierman]

OK bear with me it is 5am. I was thinking about eveyone being up in arms about climate change, but isn't it a natural thing? Could humans actually be going against the natural cycle by trying to prevent climate change? Climate change has been happening for who knows who many hundreds of millions of years. I am quite sure there has been far more CO2 in the air in the past than there is now and the earth has come along rather nicely. People seem to forget that extinction is a natural thing, yeah it is sad but it gives way to newer and stronger species. Perhaps this is the earth's way of regulating species. Maybe the earth is saying.....ok there are to many human's time to get rid of a few billion.

Short of cracking the planet in half or knocking it out of its current orbit, I don't see humans doing any long term damage to the planet.


Extinction is natural and our evolution continues....


IMO it boils down to what is natural climate shift versus what are we doing/not doing to speed up the process.

The point here is the natural cycle for the most part is gradual although history has also shown that the earth experienced some natural but abrupt climate shifts as well.

The earth does have a self cleansing process as 99% of the species that once roamed the earth are extinct. What we are seeing is today is what remains from billions of years of planet earth's evolution. By comparison our time has been quite short but we have come a long way ourselves. We definitely have a long way to go.


We can do all we want to decrease our part in global warming but in the end mother nature could decide to have an abrupt climate shift anyway. What I do like about the global warming awareness is that people are starting to become smarter stewards of the earth. Their are things we can do to live healthier and better lives and folks are trying to do them.

[Baculus]

Global Warming is a subject that heeds attention, but I believe a lot of folks are missing side issues (which are related) as well, such as air and water pollution, which affect human livibility.

Even if Global Warming was a myth, nearly 200 years of the industrial age has had negative environmental affects which cannot be ignored. After all, it is nice to have drinkable water, breathable air, and non-toxic food, right?

[The_cavalierman]

Global Warming is a subject that heeds attention, but I believe a lot of folks are missing side issues (which are related) as well, such as air and water pollution, which affect human livibility.

Even if Global Warming was a myth, nearly 200 years of the industrial age has had negative environmental affects which cannot be ignored. After all, it is nice to have drinkable water, breathable air, and non-toxic food, right?


I agree...

For every issue their will be alarmists, denial specialists and profiteers.

As with all issues people are gonna have agendas.

[artmonkforHOF]

Climate change is not bad for the planet, its bad for society as we know it. Its selfish and nieve of us as humans to thing that the world should stay the same as long as we are on it. Its also ignorant of us to think that we should do something to stop it from changing.

This planet used to have 1 large land mass called Pangea many years ago, now its strikingly different. The poles have also reversered, sustained long ice ages and impacts from large comets have but this earth under a cloud of debris for a few hundred years. Realizing all of this, I dont get to excited about some ice melting.

This planet will chage whether we like it or not. Some feel responsible for the damage their activites do to the planet, yet the actions do not directly repair what damage they have caused.

[The_cavalierman]

Climate change is not bad for the planet, its bad for society as we know it. Its selfish and nieve of us as humans to thing that the world should stay the same as long as we are on it. Its also ignorant of us to think that we should do something to stop it from changing.

This planet used to have 1 large land mass called Pangea many years ago, now its strikingly different. The poles have also reversered, sustained long ice ages and impacts from large comets have but this earth under a cloud of debris for a few hundred years. Realizing all of this, I dont get to excited about some ice melting.

This planet will chage whether we like it or not. Some feel responsible for the damage their activites do to the planet, yet the actions do not directly repair what damage they have caused.

Exactly...

It is only our arrogance that leads us to believe we can control climate. Yes we can contribute either way but mother nature dwarfs us by comparison.

If all nations went to absolute zero emissions globally and became enviromentally friendly tomorrow the earth could still have an abrupt climate shift on it's own because it has happened before.

I am not saying we should not be aware of our minute role with regard to the climate but we should also understand that we are NOT IN CONTROL of the climate.

[Zguy28]

Exactly...

It is only our arrogance that leads us to believe we can control climate. Yes we can contribute either way but mother nature dwarfs us by comparison.

If all nations went to absolute zero emissions globally and became enviromentally friendly tomorrow the earth could still have an abrupt climate shift on it's own because it has happened before.

I am not saying we should not be aware of our minute role with regard to the climate but we should also understand that we are NOT IN CONTROL of the climate.Wow. I actually more or less agree with you.

[The_cavalierman]

Wow. I actually more or less agree with you.

Even a broken watch like myself is right at least twice a day.

Merry X-Mas Zguy28:D

[Romo the Great]

Global Warming isn't a pressing issue at all.

Climate change is.

Two different animal.

[Romo the Great]

Exactly...

It is only our arrogance that leads us to believe we can control climate. Yes we can contribute either way but mother nature dwarfs us by comparison.

If all nations went to absolute zero emissions globally and became enviromentally friendly tomorrow the earth could still have an abrupt climate shift on it's own because it has happened before.

I am not saying we should not be aware of our minute role with regard to the climate but we should also understand that we are NOT IN CONTROL of the climate.

Not yet anyways.

We're still young. Give us time and we'll be dwarf mother nature.

[sacase]

Exactly...

It is only our arrogance that leads us to believe we can control climate. Yes we can contribute either way but mother nature dwarfs us by comparison.

If all nations went to absolute zero emissions globally and became enviromentally friendly tomorrow the earth could still have an abrupt climate shift on it's own because it has happened before.

I am not saying we should not be aware of our minute role with regard to the climate but we should also understand that we are NOT IN CONTROL of the climate.

This is exactly what I was getting at. I mean I am all for clean air and water, etc. I also think that even though we have build machines and burn fossil fuels, we are still apart of the natural cycle. Personally I think we should be responsible with our actions and just roll with what nature gives us.

Side note: I was snorkling in the Bahamas this past week with my GF, it is was her first time doing it and I wanted to start her out slow since I am trying to get her to Scuba dive with me. Anyways we were coming back towards shore after about an hour in the water and I see this "plastic bag" in the water passing between me and my GF. At first I was angry that some stupid tourist was litering in the water, then I saw the "plastic bag" pulse two times. I shoved her out the way and kicked away as hard as I could, thankfully niether of us were stung.

[Destino]

It's a moral issue. Should we risk "some" profits now in the long term interests of the world our children and grandchildren will inherit... or should we place our short term interests above all else. Be is global warming or not launching more pollution into the air and water every year is a road that leads predictably to bad things.

One really does have to be stupid to think that we can continue to cut down forests, grow our population at a accelerating rate, and pollute more and more every year without consequence. Global warming may be real or not but the point is simple and easy to understand, the way our civilization has done things to this point is not going to be possible forever. It's time to change.

[The_cavalierman]

This is exactly what I was getting at. I mean I am all for clean air and water, etc. I also think that even though we have build machines and burn fossil fuels, we are still apart of the natural cycle. Personally I think we should be responsible with our actions and just roll with what nature gives us.

Side note: I was snorkling in the Bahamas this past week with my GF, it is was her first time doing it and I wanted to start her out slow since I am trying to get her to Scuba dive with me. Anyways we were coming back towards shore after about an hour in the water and I see this "plastic bag" in the water passing between me and my GF. At first I was angry that some stupid tourist was litering in the water, then I saw the "plastic bag" pulse two times. I shoved her out the way and kicked away as hard as I could, thankfully niether of us were stung.


Boy that was a close call with the Jelly fish you encountered. Glad you and your lady were not stung.

IMO the bottom line is this...

The Earth is a self-cleansing planet. When man has jacked up enough, mother nature will purge humankind just like she has purged 99% of the species that once roamed the earth.

[Teller]

Global Warming isn't a pressing issue at all.

Climate change is.

Two different animal.

Global climate change is just the new catch phrase so that when this cycle ends, and the earth begins cooling again, the same alarmists that are crying now can still (in their minds) scream, "OMG!!! Look!!! We're still right!!! Now the earth is cooling too fast!!! Oh the humanity!!!" :laugh:

[mikered30]

The Earth has been warming for the last 10,000 years, since we came out of the last Ice Age, nothing new here.