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Humans aren't causing massive or huge tons of CO2 to collect in the atmosphere. But that doesn't mean we aren't contributing.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/06/010615071248.htm

From the numbers he argues it would appear that humans are pumping out about 5% of the world's CO2. But whether or not we're the real problem is hardly the point. I believe in this thread your point was that global warming is a threat, and it will be a threat now? Yes, I agree to that. And it will certainly impact us in the future. CO2 isn't something you can just get rid of, it will take a massive move from all of the nations in the world working together to stop pumping out these emissions. We aren't doing much now, but that doesn't mean we should keep going.

I do believe Professor Essenhigh is onto something here. But, like I said, how much we contribute is beside the point. The fact is, it's happening now. Essenhigh has a slightly more optimistic view about it:


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/06/010615071248.htm

I believe that is a painfully optimistic view about global warming. And I also believe that whatever we can do to lower CO2 emissions would be a good idea. Especially since most of those CO2 emissions is coming from our cars, and factories, and buildings. However, is North America the one to blame for this? Not entirely, the blame, as some may say should also be directed towards developing nations as well. And here is where the Kyoto Accord is failing.

Although North America does account for a large portion of CO2 pollution, the numbers set out by Kyoto omits developing nations, and specifically targets industrial nations such as those in North America and parts of Europe.
Kyoto Accord (PDF)

Why is this a problem? Although industrial nations are large contributors to CO2 emissions, it is estimated that developing nations will soon become the world's largest consumers of oil and fossil fuels. More consumption for those productions, of course, leads to more CO2 emissions from them. China, in particular, is a huge worry right now. The country is developing at a rapid pace, and once it is done growing, it will be a big mouth to feed. A similar concern can also be applied to India.

Stopping these nations from developing is simply impossible. That's just asking for a war to start. But there is hope on the horizon:


http://www.straightdope.com/columns/060407.html

As for what I personally think? Whatever happens in the future, I just hope it works out. I don't always do my part to avoid polluting the planet. But it's difficult to imagine cutting a few things out of my life. We're all a little too used to convenience.

Not exactly what I was trying to say. It's not that there's nothing I can do about it. It's more of an argument on whether or not I feel like dedicating my time to it (but that's a whole nother issue).

What I meant was, the CO2 is out there now, it's up there, and with the problems we face in trying to stop it, there's realistically nothing we can do as individuals, or even as an entire nation, or even as far as an entire group of industrial nations. Even if everyone in an industrialized nation stopped putting out CO2 emissions completely, there will always be other nations that will put out the fumes.

Developing countries will still need oil and gas, and fuel for their growing economies, and the only thing we can really do is soften the blow. We can't cut off their supply to fuel because that's both cruel and would probably lead to a lot of war and even more hatred towards industrialized nations. There's basically no good or easy way to tell countries like China that we can't give them the fuel they need to better their lives because we need the fuel to make a magical new source of fuel that isn't polluting the world. They're not going to buy it, and they're definitely not going to put a hold on their industrial revolution for us. That's pretty much what I meant.

Sorry if my comment was confusing in any way. 3nodding

i agree with martian, the majority of americans arnt doing crap to help with the situation

we need to do somthing
NOW!!!!!
or else we're all DEAD!! the planet won't last forever

Well, you're half-right, since there is a natural cycle to it, but there's also a steady decline overall, caused by overuse of CFCs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_hole

I agree with the permafrost thing, its a good idea, but i doubt many are going to follow it,

as for a totally off topic thing

saddams going to hang!

First off, for everybody who does not beleive in global warming, even though people have already talked to you:

Yes, for now global warning may be just a theory, BUT it IS true that the CO2 level is rising. For now can you not invade threads and tell people off for trying to give the world what they think?

Now for my talk:

I agree with everything that you said, but with people taking down trees I have something else to add.

Now when you cut down trees, you only take away the things that take away the carbon dioxide and put in oxigen. However, when you start burning down trees, which is what some people do so that they don't have to uproot the stumps. What that does is release the CO2 that the tree had inside itself at the current time, adding to the CO2 in the air multiplyed by however many trees were burned down. Don't we have enough forest fires to burn down our forests? Plus the rainforests are being taken down by the day.

I'm confused. CO2 is what we breathe out, isn't it? So we're polluting the air just by breathing??? gonk crying

And I thought cars emmitted Carbon Minoxcide, not CO2???

I'm lost gonk