Government: is it doing enough?!

[ShadowLeader]

Is the government doing enough about Global Warming? What do you think about Global Warming in general. How do you think the government can do more? Post your replies below.

 

[Richard Wagner]

I don't think any one can tell whether many of the phenomena that indicate a climate change are caused by global warming, or phenomena that would occur regardless of what humans do.

However, I don't think global warming should be the only incentive to stop pumping noxious **** into the air. I personally can't stand the smell, or even the mere presence of car exhaust - it makes me nauseous within a minute usually.

As far as what the government of the US has done, we are just about the only industrialized nation to have not signed the kyoto protocol. I think economics have something to do with that, and I can't wait til the day people's feelings shift and economics no longer win out over everything else, which is the case now.

 

[True Reign]

Global warming is stupid to me. There is such a thing, but no what everyone is talking about. Currently the Earth in an Ice Age. Now before you say 'NO WE AREN'T NOOB', we are since Ice Age's can not alway stay the stereotypical blizzards every hour of every day of every year; however, it does happen. Right now the Ice Age is getting into a warmer period, so the temperatures will rise and rise until they hit breaking point (probably around one hundred-fifty degrees Fahrenheit) which then we'll get back into the whiteouts.

 

[airindia787]

I think there are plenty of natural causes to climate change. I also think that most of the reports on climate change are exaggerated, and seem to imply that humans are looking at self-destruction by 2050.

We could look at geological history and we would not other periods where the temperatures rose like they are now, so I think it is not as big of a deal as implied. Yes, there are some corrections that need to be made, but they are easy to do, and everything could be fixed in no time really.

 

[I Laugh at your Misfortune!]

As far as what the government of the US has done, we are just about the only industrialized nation to have not signed the kyoto protocol. I think economics have something to do with that, and I can't wait til the day people's feelings shift and economics no longer win out over everything else, which is the case now.

I find it hilarious that the reason for not entering the kyoto protocol was the economy and now if we look at the USA's economy....it hasn't really done them much good.

 

[Aurafire]

Yes, I think the government is doing plenty to deal with global warming. In fact, I think we're doing too much about it, seeing that it's merely a theory that has not (and cannot) be proven true no matter how many scientists say it's real.

I astonishes me how people continue to defy logic and promote the idea that humankind's actions are warming the earth. Even if they are, it's on such a minute level that it can't possibly make a difference. Carbon Dioxide makes up 0.038% of our atmosphere, and not all of it is man-made. How can a fraction of a percent decrease possibly alter the earth's temperature in any significant manner?

To put it into perspective, there's 3,000 gigatonnes (3,000 x 10^9 tonnes) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Humans contribute 27 billion tonnes annually. So some simple divison will reveal:

27 x 10^9 / 3,000 x 10^9 = .009%. Humans contribute .009% to the atmosphere's total carbon dioxide levels. (Feel free to double check my math: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide). So let's see: .009% carbon dioxide gone from the atmosphere. Wow. That's barely anything, right? You might call that progress, but when you think about how many other greenhouse gases there are, and in such high levels, it won't change the global temperature in a significant manner.

If people don't like the fact that we're emitting carbon dioxide because of burning fossil fuels, they should think about these things: 1) We don't have any other useable energy in enough quantity to meet our demands, and 2) With alternative energy sources will come the natural decrease of man-made carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But any rational person will quickly figure out that there's not much humans can do about global warming. So why it is believed to be true by the majority of the population is beyond me >.>

 

[Nitrous Oxide]

Yes, I think the government is doing plenty to deal with global warming. In fact, I think we're doing too much about it, seeing that it's merely a theory that has not (and cannot) be proven true no matter how many scientists say it's real.

I astonishes me how people continue to defy logic and promote the idea that humankind's actions are warming the earth. Even if they are, it's on such a minute level that it can't possibly make a difference. Carbon Dioxide makes up 0.038% of our atmosphere, and not all of it is man-made. How can a fraction of a percent decrease possibly alter the earth's temperature in any significant manner?

To put it into perspective, there's 3,000 gigatonnes (3,000 x 10^9 tonnes) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Humans contribute 27 billion tonnes annually. So some simple divison will reveal:

27 x 10^9 / 3,000 x 10^9 = .009%. Humans contribute .009% to the atmosphere's total carbon dioxide levels. (Feel free to double check my math: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide). So let's see: .009% carbon dioxide gone from the atmosphere. Wow. That's barely anything, right? You might call that progress, but when you think about how many other greenhouse gases there are, and in such high levels, it won't change the global temperature in a significant manner.

If people don't like the fact that we're emitting carbon dioxide because of burning fossil fuels, they should think about these things: 1) We don't have any other useable energy in enough quantity to meet our demands, and 2) With alternative energy sources will come the natural decrease of man-made carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But any rational person will quickly figure out that there's not much humans can do about global warming. So why it is believed to be true by the majority of the population is beyond me >.>

Words of wisdom here. Global warming is a joke. Come to Canada and tell me there's a thing as global warming. In fact, our winters the last few years have been colder, and our summers as well. So much for warming, eh?

 

[iPochama]

Global warming is stupid to me. There is such a thing, but no what everyone is talking about. Currently the Earth in an Ice Age. Now before you say 'NO WE AREN'T NOOB', we are since Ice Age's can not alway stay the stereotypical blizzards every hour of every day of every year; however, it does happen. Right now the Ice Age is getting into a warmer period, so the temperatures will rise and rise until they hit breaking point (probably around one hundred-fifty degrees Fahrenheit) which then we'll get back into the whiteouts.

***** plz.
You'll be superdead before the effects of the ice age comes around. Same for any "dire" effects of Global Warming.

 

[Legobricks]

They're doing too much; everyone is.
See, whether we do it slowly or fastly, we WILL eventually burn all the coal, oil and gas at our disposal — then the charcoal business will get its comeuppance and we'll be burning that.

Still, while 'global warming' is an evident happening at present, it is by most means a natural process. We aren't helping the 'issue' but there's nothing we can do to stop it anyway.

 

[True Reign]

***** plz.
You'll be superdead before the effects of the ice age comes around. Same for any "dire" effects of Global Warming.

Exactly.

And whatever if whatever is blocked out is towards my post, then don't do that again please.

 

[Richard Wagner]

If people don't like the fact that we're emitting carbon dioxide because of burning fossil fuels, they should think about these things: 1) We don't have any other useable energy in enough quantity to meet our demands, and 2) With alternative energy sources will come the natural decrease of man-made carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But any rational person will quickly figure out that there's not much humans can do about global warming. So why it is believed to be true by the majority of the population is beyond me >.>

Regardless of what it doesn't do to the environment, I don't like breathing that stuff in.

Also, I think the points you've made here kind of lack cogency - you argue that fossil fuels are the only energy source we have enough of, then say that alternative energy sources will decrease carbon dioxide emissions - but how does that matter, if, according to you, there isn't enough of it?

Personally, I think the answer is to (gradually) use less energy. That would be a huge change, but big problems (and reliance on fossil fuels IS a problem) require big solutions.

 

[Aurafire]

Regardless of what it doesn't do to the environment, I don't like breathing that stuff in.

Also, I think the points you've made here kind of lack cogency - you argue that fossil fuels are the only energy source we have enough of, then say that alternative energy sources will decrease carbon dioxide emissions - but how does that matter, if, according to you, there isn't enough of it?

Personally, I think the answer is to (gradually) use less energy. That would be a huge change, but big problems (and reliance on fossil fuels IS a problem) require big solutions.

Sure, no one likes breathing in pollution. I agree with you there.

Perhaps I didn't explain myself clearly. What I meant to say is that fossil fuels are our main source of energy. As we develop alternative energy sources, these will slowly reduce the need to burn fossil fuels, thus (indirectly) reducing our carbon emissions. I didn't mean to say that alternative fuels aren't necessary or whatever...I just meant that our reliance on fossil fuels will soon have to be done away with (as we are quickly running out of them), and alternative fuels will help in that sense.

 

[Allstories]

Words of wisdom here. Global warming is a joke. Come to Canada and tell me there's a thing as global warming. In fact, our winters the last few years have been colder, and our summers as well. So much for warming, eh?

Global Warming is kind of a misleading term. It's not that everything is getting warmer all the time everywhere, it's that the temperatures are becoming more extreme, global warming being only a part of it. Climate change is definitely a real thing, and we are definitely accelerating it.

The scary thing is that even if we can get our act together in terms of becoming more environment-friendly, we still got more populous countries like India and China making a huge dent in the ozone anyway.

 

[AussiePower]

I think our government may be heading in the right direction, but the whole world needs to work together. Australia only contributes to 1% of the world's emissions so if we do something about it, it will not make an ounce of difference unless some of the bigger countries, like the US, Japan and China do the same.

 

[Corvus of the Black Night]

((is a bit disappointed because I wanted to complain about Obama))

Well, when they say that the world average temperature goes up by 1%, it has much larger effects than it sounds.

There's no way we can prove it at the moment. I think that the Ozone Hole caused by CFC's were enough to convince me, but I really can't really draw the line yet.

Other forms of energy are difficult to apply, because they require radical design changes. Wonder why we haven't had many hydrogen fueled cars yet? Because they can't make it efficient enough to be profitable. Why no Solar Powered cars in the dealership? Because they take a lot of basking to get somewhere. Blame the government for not giving funding to the companies responsible for making cars and being hypocritical enough to spike the standards.

With power plants, I think that there are cleaner forms of energy, but they are either harder to harness (fusion), very unreliable (wind) or don't produce as much energy (Solar)

 

[ShadowLeader]

WOW....when I put up this chat I really didn't expect there to be so many different opinions. I honestly believed that it was going to be a one sided "Global Warming is real" argument. I'm very glad to have all of these opinions floating around out there.

Anyway, I personally believe in "Global Cooling". This is a serious threat. If we don't hurry, snowmen will come to life (like Frosty) and rip our heads off and feast on our intestine (not like Frosty). That is a scary thought:D:P

But seriously I do think Global Warming exists, I'm just not seeing its effects personally. All I am seeing is the government using it as an excuse to make new kinds of taxes and permits.

Like did you know that an air conditioner makes your house cold using freon gas? Did you also know that you have to have a special license to handle freon? Do you know why? They say that freon pollutes the atmosphere. Did you know that it does? But guess what, the effects that it has on the atmosphere are so small that you could release the gas from every air conditioner in America into the atmosphere and it will do about as much damage as a car would driving from home to the store down the road. Sounds like you would need a license to handle something that dangerous to me. Our government is so wonderful and conscious of the environment. Don't you think?

 

[AussiePower]

WOW....when I put up this chat I really didn't expect there to be so many different opinions. I honestly believed that it was going to be a one sided "Global Warming is real" argument. I'm very glad to have all of these opinions floating around out there.

Anyway, I personally believe in "Global Cooling". This is a serious threat. If we don't hurry, snowmen will come to life (like Frosty) and rip our heads off and feast on our intestine (not like Frosty). That is a scary thought:D:P

But seriously I do think Global Warming exists, I'm just not seeing its effects personally. All I am seeing is the government using it as an excuse to make new kinds of taxes and permits.

Like did you know that an air conditioner makes your house cold using freon gas? Did you also know that you have to have a special license to handle freon? Do you know why? They say that freon pollutes the atmosphere. Did you know that it does? But guess what, the effects that it has on the atmosphere are so small that you could release the gas from every air conditioner in America into the atmosphere and it will do about as much damage as a car would driving from home to the store down the road. Sounds like you would need a license to handle something that dangerous to me. Our government is so wonderful and conscious of the environment. Don't you think?

What country do you live in? It's similar in Australia, they're raising taxes on everything, power, water, etc. In NSW you need a license to go fishing.. Now in SA they're tying to put marine parks in as a "conservation".

Back to global warming, i think it may be real, but i think human activity only plays a minor roll. It's too early to say yet though.

 

[Volkner's Apprentice]

What country do you live in? It's similar in Australia, they're raising taxes on everything, power, water, etc. In NSW you need a license to go fishing.. Now in SA they're tying to put marine parks in as a "conservation".

Back to global warming, i think it may be real, but i think human activity only plays a minor roll. It's too early to say yet though.

Americans don't need a legitiment (is that not a word? seriously? My computer isn't recognizes a spelling error, haha) license to operate an air conditioner, they just need one to work with freon gas.

I agree with your statement though, global warming exists it's just not nearly on as large of a scale as people make it out to be. Sure, we're going to have the option to have solar, water, and wind powered cars and houses in a century or two (ones that don't cost you a bazillion times more than a normal home to function/run), but it's not as if a switch to alternative energy and less pollutive substances are going to happen overnight. Also, the government shouldn't have to waste time on this, because the media and a lot of other sources blow global warming out of proportion.

That's not to say I don't believe people shouldn't be going green and try to improve the place they live a little bit. For goodness sake, nobody needs a Hummer. They're ugly and hard to drive..and recycling bins should be posted like, everywhere around towns and schools, not just in the places that can afford fancy signs/containers. (XD lol green rant)

 

[Corvus of the Black Night]

27 x 10^9 / 3,000 x 10^9 = .009%. Humans contribute .009% to the atmosphere's total carbon dioxide levels. (Feel free to double check my math: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide). So let's see: .009% carbon dioxide gone from the atmosphere. Wow. That's barely anything, right? You might call that progress, but when you think about how many other greenhouse gases there are, and in such high levels, it won't change the global temperature in a significant manner.

Aye, but consider that Carbon Dioxide makes up less than 0.01% of our atmosphere. That means we contributed to at least than more than 1% of it, which is huge by enviormental standpoints.

I'm no tree hugger but the tree is one of the most important pieces of the ecosystem. Besides its role in the Oxygen-Carbon Dioxide cycle, it makes homes for animals, food as well, and when it dies it becomes a home and food for other creatures. I don't mind if a tree is cut down to make a house, as wood is a good material, but using 100000 pieces of paper to write the same thing over again is lunacy. Honestly, if you want to save trees, conserve your paper. Write on the backs of old assignments if need be. I hate it when people use 10 pieces of paper to write "Kaylee" or "Sarah" with pretty colours.

If we really want to slow down enviormental destruction, we have to stop wasting such limited resources. You don't need to stop using paper, just reduce how much of it you waste. Same goes for energy. If you can go to a store that's only a mile away, just walk or ride a bike. Seriously. And considering how many obese people live around the world... that might be a two way good thing.

Yes, Global Warming exists. There's evidence to our world average temperature going up. But whether or not it's human doing, or if it's something that we should try to lower is in the blue...

 

[ShadowLeader]

What country do you live in? It's similar in Australia, they're raising taxes on everything, power, water, etc. In NSW you need a license to go fishing.. Now in SA they're tying to put marine parks in as a "conservation".

Back to global warming, i think it may be real, but i think human activity only plays a minor roll. It's too early to say yet though.

I live in the US. And we need fishing licenses too. But only after a certain age. And if you want to talk about raised taxes, they just doubled the tax on tobacco.

Americans don't need a legitiment (is that not a word? seriously? My computer isn't recognizes a spelling error, haha) license to operate an air conditioner, they just need one to work with freon gas.

actually, you need a heating and cooling license too.
And I agree, regardless of Global Warming we should try and keep it kind of green. However, I LOVE hummers....and I will drive one one day when gas prices are lower (so never)...but i think they look cool..