CO2, Climate Change, and Fossil Fuel
Lately, there’s a brand new wave of climate change skepticism rolling through the media and public. As reported by Julia Whitty in Mother Jones toward the end of 2006, climate change skeptics generally fall into the following camps:
- They believe that the current climate warming is natural.
- They believe that current climate change is media/environmentalist hype.
- They distrust science.
- They believe the current climate change is based on a conspiracy, including the idea that researchers create CO2 data to ensure job security.
- They have no reason to disbelieve other than preferring to keep their head buried in the sand/their ass. ;-)
Proof that Human Activity Causes Global Change
One of the most ignorant statements I’ve heard repeated is that there’s no way little ol’ human activity can affect something as vast as the earth and its atmosphere.
To dispute this notion, one only need look at the hole in the ozone above the Antarctic. After being discovered in 1985, many argued that the data was incorrect. Then all sorts of alternative explanations were put forth, attributing the ozone hole to everything from variations in solar radiation to normal cycles in the atmosphere. But, ultimately, it was proven that the hole was caused by human activity.
After proving the hole was caused by human activity, nations began to phase out production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and related compounds. This process was completed in 1996. And guess what? The hole in the ozone has begun to heal, slowly but surely.
If chemicals in spray cans and refrigerators can affect the entire globe, what’s the block against accepting that burning fossil fuels affects the globe, too?
The Smoking Chart
The chart above compares temperature, atmospheric CO2 levels (in parts per million), and carbon emissions (in gigatons). Sure, the temperature change is only about one degree, but we know that one degree makes a huge difference.
Proponents of Increased CO2
While some former skeptics have changed their minds and begun to work toward reducing carbon emissions, others have changed their minds only to now say that climate change and high CO2 levels are good for the earth and humans. Some say the rain forests are going to love all that extra CO2. But, they should think again: An experiment at Stanford University has shown that increased CO2 coupled with increased temperature actually decreases plant growth.
There Will Always Be Skeptics
It’s good to have skeptics, and, up to a point, they serve a much-needed purpose. However, at this point in the climate change debate, skeptics are like a stubborn guy in a group of people watching a large kid cannonball into a swimming pool. Most observers will conclude that the kid caused the water level to rise. But the stubborn skeptic may refute their claim by noting that, between waves, the water level actually dropped lower than ever.
Read More: climate change, co2, fossil fuel, global warming, ozone hole
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Amazing that even for something like this, they have found the easy way out. Rather then fix the problem, they just go out and buy carbon contracts and keep on polluting. The bottom line is what counts.
Touche’
Of course things are cyclical. We live in a fundamentally cyclical universe/reality.
Trying to divorce the impact of the Industrial Revolution from climate change is like saying:
“Because mercury occurs naturally in cinnabar, mankind’s handling of mercury hasn’t impacted the ecosystem.”
Fucking morons.
Mercury is another excellent example of humans affecting the global environment on a large scale. There’s a reason pregnant women and children are warned not to eat fish. It’s clear from ice-core data that, except for periodic volcanoes, the levels of mercury in the environment are the direct results of human activity: historical levels of Mercury in Upper Fremont Glacier ice cores.
Human activity focuses mercury, in sensitive areas, in a way that natural processes seldom (if ever) do.
Nice chart, Joe,
Illustrates the “coincidence” of global warming and industrial revolution nicely.
Would have liked to be around when the folks who said the sun revolved around the earth, lost their argument.
I hope I’ll be around when those who think war is peace, finally wake up.
But it seems we are a long way off before a whole lot of people understand for every action there is a reaction.
You know, I think I’m done trying to convince anyone of anything. I think when I hear something stupid from now one, I’m going to walk over to them, hold their cheeks firmly in my big old carpenter hands and gives them a big old Italian kiss on the lips.
Since they don’t seem to be in a habit of thinking, I guess I’ll give them something personal to think about…and react to.
Xman has a GREAT idea!
I’ve been sort of thinking along those lines…I think I’ll throw in a titty twister, as well.
Well, I’m certainly not going to disagree with you guys…not now, anyway ;-)
God help me, I can’t look at that smaller picture (above) without seeing
a full frontal mammogram.
Gaia is even more beautiful than I thought.
Indigo,
I read your note and blew shredded wheat up my nose.
I also saved the photo to my favorites just because of you.
Xman,
I’m gonna try that.