Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Originally posted by: jagec
Originally posted by: LegendKiller
That being said, I personally don't believe in the 1:1 correlation between increased temps and man's influence upon the planet. There are *WAY* too many variables that are existant within this universe to conclusively say that there is a definitive 1:1 cause/effect.
However, I do firmly believe that you don't sh!t where you eat, so we shouldn't eff this planet up. Direct pollution is plainly evident. Furthermore, even if there isn't a 1:1 correlation, even if there is a 10%, why not do what we can to minimize our impact?
Well, the scientific viewpoint was never
for a 1:1 correlation. The scientists can read their charts, and they see the some cyclical pattern in temperature that everyone else does. Yes, the earth is naturally going through a warming period. The problem, however, is that it's warming up faster than ever before, and the CO2 levels are going up MUCH faster than ever before. Since there has historically been a pretty close correlation between the two, it's cause for worry.
But no
scientist has ever claimed that humans were 100% responsible for the temperature increase...just that we're accelerating it beyond what is natural.
1. Can you prove to me that the CO2 levels that we are currently at are absolutely outside the bounds of what this planet would have produced anyway? What is the incremental amount?
2. Can you prove to me that the increase we are in now would not have been caused by the planet itself?
This planet has had lower peaks and higher peaks throughout its history. To say, we know for certain, that man is the sole cause of the spike is just rediculous. Furthermore, to say that the increase wouldn't have happened without human intervention is just make believe, since we cannot tell since we don't know what we are actually doing incrementally.
How do you explain that ice caps are getting thicker in some areas? You guys are falling for an old trick, utilize short-term data to make a long-term prediction. Decades ago the short-term data was we are cooling, now it's we are warming. The fact is that we know far too little and our measurements and long-term data far too cobbled together and inaccurate to be able to conclusively say we are having a meaningful impact.
Heck, the finance industry does the same thing. By utilizing 2-3 years of return fund managers sucker investors in, get another 2-3 years of decent return, then suck. Short-term data means nothing, especially when very few fund managers actually beat an index for any meaningful amount of time.
