<p>I think that global warming is a reality. Yes, our planet does have natural cycles. I think that humanity is increasing the magnitude of the current heating cycle with what we're doing. </p>
<p>However, in a few thousands of years, our planet will plummet into another ice age, and it won't really matter any more. Humanity will be forced to either move off-planet or cram into the sub-tropical and tropical latitudes. The latter will cause even more problems. Regardless, if humanity is able to last long enough to see the next ice-age, it will effectively act as a reboot for the planet, and we'll get to try it all over again.</p>
<p>I dont care whether global warming is real.</p>
<p>I care about solving any problems that threaten humanity, and the recognition of the whole scale problem of global warming is not a requirment for such - but defending the human race through technology to stop our reliance on the Earth's heat is what I think is best. Let's rip apart the atmosphere and make it so WE control the heat - yea *****s!!! </p>
<p>Of course this is so far fetched that it likely wont happen for another few hundred years. Bleh.</p>
<p>Global warming is probably happening in some form. I think a more correct term is "climate change," as it describes changes in precipitation and the like as well as temperature change.</p>
<p>The part that I don't totally agree with is the part that says humans caused it all. I really don't see how that's possible, given the magnitude of the whole issue. I don't think that a little development over the last few centuries will cause the earth to become uninhabitable. Perhaps some resources have been squandered, but that doesn't make the climate warmer.</p>
<p>Personally, I welcome warmer weather because I'm always freezing cold. I can wear 3 sweaters and 2 pairs of socks in my house and I still have to put my hands on the coffee pot to be warm enough to play piano. And the house is usually kept at 68-70° during the winter.</p>
But if you do follow the hypothesis that climate change is entirely caused by natural cycles, we should be in a cooling period now.
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These cycles are much longer than generations of humans...definitely not a short term thing, which I think is where the problem lies. People are looking at the short term and freaking, when a look at the big picture is what they should be looking at.</p>
<p>thats cuz ur just ignorant. did u know that global warming doesn't necesarily mean that it's getting WARMER? it just means that the temperatures get more EXTREME! and you've obviously noticed that.</p>
<p>^^ But don't you care about what you leave your children, your grandchildren? I hate that response, I really do because it shows how selfish we are as a generation. For the first time, our generation realizes what burning fossils fuels does to our environment, but we don't care. Global warming exists, and you can argue whether or not humans cause it, but the fact is that it does exist. Greenland is melting, Antarctica is melting. Seals and polar bears are drowning because they can no longer swim between ice sheets. There are going to be rising sea levels and lowland areas are going under water. This is a reality, but again whether or not humans cause it or not you can debate all you want. But either way, nobody can argue that we shouldn't be pumping so many natural fuels into the air, not only because it's bad for the environment but also because the simple fact is, they're going to run out. They've known since the 70s that oil reserves were going to run out in the mid to late 21st century. But only recently did they take into account the booming economies (and their newfound dependence on oil) of developing nations. Now they believe oil is going to run out in 40-60 years or less. 40 YEARS. NEWS FLASH: THAT IS PROBABLY IN OUR LIFETIME. </p>
<p>So whether or not we're the cause of global warming, we do need to get off of our dependence on oil or else our civilization as we know it will cease.</p>
<p>Global warming is a problem. Period. But it might not have such dramatic an effect as many people hype it up to be. All those stories of doom and gloom full of acid rain and mass flooding seem to be a little extreme. I think the situation will get better once we run out of fossil fuels and start turning toward alternative forms of energy. </p>
<p>I think it is a much more stupid question when people ask when the oil prices will drop. Some simply don't accept the fact that the supply will run out in a very short amount of time.</p>
<p>^ we discover new oil fields nearly everyday. And our production doesn't seem to be low (except in warzones). Also, the extinction of species is complete bull. Scientists discover new species every week, so how can people predict when half the species are going to die out. At least the US made a good decision about not signing the Kyoto Protocol.</p>
<p>Well, I think you have to remember with the "cycles" argument against global warming, that man-made global warming is measured as a deviation from the predicted cycle, and not just the change itself. </p>
<p>In other words, cycles predicted that our temperature would be warming, but not as much as it is today.</p>
<p>How could we inject billions of tons of CO2 into the air, have the CO2 concentration of the air rise roughly 15%, and do all the horrible things we're doing without changing the weather?</p>
<p>Don't tell me CO2 going from 300ish to 360ish ppm in a period of time on the order of 50 years is a "natural trend."</p>
<p>The people who don't want you to think global warming is happening are the people who profit a lot by it. Makes sense, eh?</p>
<p>Global Warming is an misnomer. It's actually Global Climate change, and how does one observation (placed in the wrong context) overrule tons of other scientific observations? Global climate change is not suppose to make every single day +50 degrees F. It's just saying there well be greater fluctuations on both ends that would overall affect the climate. You should really get past thinking that global climate change is anything like "the day after tomorrow" mentality some alarmist like to use.</p>