Global Warming

So my house will be worth more with a sea view? I'm gonna turn my heating up and my bike ticking over... It will make me money!

I'm not persuaded on global warming. As people have said, climate change is cyclical. We had ice ages and warm ages without anyone producing much CO2. And what about natural volcanic eruptions that spew huge amounts of sulphur and carbon into the atmosphere. Perhaps we'll tax the Italians for having Etna.

And I'm fed up with talk about taxes to 'combat global warming'. Again, others have made the point that other countries produce far more pollution than we do, so how is 2 or 3p on a litre of unleaded here going to reduce the problem to any material extent? It's all hot air, unproven, and yet another excuse for tax increases.

And we're off to the bike show tomoz in Daryl's car - I'll ask him to drive at 40 to respect the environment, just like I ride at 40 for similar reasons

Im ancient so I'll probably dead and gone when it all goes tits up but I am worried for my kids and grandkids

[Biker Biggles]

I'm not entirely convinced either,but I'm willing to accept a common sense scenario that says that an ever increasing Human race using ever more resources and dumping ever more waste is not a sustainable option.Given that we are not at all amenable to having a lower standard of living imposed and that those who are poorer want to get richer we are in a bit of a problem.Being more efficient,new technology and recycling all have a part to play,but seem to be just tinkering at the edges when you consider a couple of billion people in the "third world"are clamoring for their bit of the action,and who can blame them.Traditionally we have met this demand by continued economic growth,but that will just multiply the problem.
I don't know the answer,but common sense suggests that human population growth is the root problem,so just possibly the Chinese have hit upon the solution with their much derided one child per family policy.My arithmetic is not great but over a generation or two surely that would halve the population,leaving sufficient resources and more sustainable emissions for Mankind in future years.This nettle will need grasping sometime,and the sooner we start the less painful it will be.

But one child per family means an older population which is an economic strain....

I have it from an excellent well informed source (one of the top Geologists in the world) that Climate Change has very little to do with what us humans do. Our output is marginal in comparison to what the world itself produces. Climate change is cyclical. The worlds polarity is a large factor in climate change. At the moment our polarity is overdue to switch. I believe it switches every 600000 or so and the last produced an ice age. This is monitored in the sea beds beneath the Atlantic. If i remember rightly, we are about 25000 years overdue.

I havent done geology for a couple of years so im a bit rusty and someone may correct me, but if you ask me, its a smokescreen and propaganda for the government to collect more money to heommorage on Iraq & Afghanistan

Originally Posted by robchester

I have it from an excellent well informed source (one of the top Geologists in the world) that Climate Change has very little to do with what us humans do.

I had lunch with a Nobel prize winning scientist, and he doesn't believe God exists.

So, I suppose that's that one cleared up too then.

I dont think the issue of religion can be included in Science.

However Geology and Climate Change are very much in the same field

[Biker Biggles]

The economic strain is very true,but we will also have to change our economic system drastically since it relies on constant growth at present which is unsustainable.We would need a shrinking economy in line with a shrinking population,and some major changes in working patterns to reflect the demographic changes.Quite beyond our ability I'm sure,but as for the alternative---

Originally Posted by robchester

I dont think the issue of religion can be included in Science.

However Geology and Climate Change are very much in the same field

Hmph. I'd like to see you tell that to Tom Cruise.