While the sun drives the climate, solar output is not driving the climate change we are seeing. In fact solar output was slightly down for a lot of the 00's.
We have satellites pointed at the sun that measure this.
I enjoy learning more about the sun. Particularly, the corona and the temperatures both near the visible surface of the sun and temperatures further and further away from it. In debates, we often hear people say; the fact of the matter is, or it has been proven that...Well, there was a time when spectral lines emitting from the corona were attributed to a new element, coronium, until that theory was disproven in the early 1940's. Research showed high levels of ionization and atoms being buffeted around at temperatures approaching 1,000,000 C. It's one thing to conclude that the source of the corona's heat was energy created by the sun. But Albert Einstein himself was being contradicted by the notion of temperatures rising from 6000 C at the surface of the sun to 1,000,000 C further away, where they should, in fact, be cooler.
About the best explanation is that it remains a puzzle.
I mention this because what we think is settled science, has yet to be settled, at least outside of political discussions. Variables exist. There are still unknowns. As some scientists like to say, there are unknown unknowns and known unknowns. If, be definition, we don't know the unknown unknowns, and they could be affecting temperatures within our solar system, what are we to conclude about the many elements within our atmosphere that interact in ways we may also not fully understand?
To get a little political, the man, I've forgotten his name, who coined the phrase; global warming, stated that the science does not support the current assertions regarding trace gases profoundly altering global temps. Al Gore's mentor and teacher was wise and taught him much about global warming, according the former Vice President. Well, until that same man publically challenged statements made by Mr. Gore. Then he was referred to as a senile old fool. If our planet was warmer during the Roman Empire than it is today, why is that?
I don't want to see myself as a climate denier. That sounds silly. I want to see more evidence and be convinced. Remember, in the early 70's, over 90% of people polled, believed JFK was killed as part of a conspiracy, and not by Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone. Even today, the number is still about 50%, despite evidence that seems to prove the lone gunman theory. Both sides can believe untruths, when motivated to do so by politics or financial gain.