Comments on: The Real Threat of Global Warming http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:55:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: BrianOfAtlanta http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-95787 BrianOfAtlanta Thu, 02 Nov 2006 22:17:22 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-95787 Or the warming may be due to an increase in solar radiation. That is the generally accepted cause of the very similar warming trend from 1920 to 1940, and would neatly explain the current warming on Mars. Too many "ifs", in my book, to support truncating the world economy by a few trillion dollars on this long shot. Or the warming may be due to an increase in solar radiation. That is the generally accepted cause of the very similar warming trend from 1920 to 1940, and would neatly explain the current warming on Mars. Too many “ifs”, in my book, to support truncating the world economy by a few trillion dollars on this long shot.

]]> By: Lewis http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94744 Lewis Wed, 01 Nov 2006 19:05:17 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94744 Too many highly qualified scientists still dispute the that conclusion. Their position is based on suspect data, measuring techniques and statistics. And you're wrong about the warming trend not going away. The climate has been getting hotter and colder in a cyclic pattern for a very long time. Who knows, there are probably cycles within cycles. The unfortunate truth is we don't really know what is happening or why. We know that CO2 will absorb the sun's energy. But so can methane. Some even speculate that it's all the beef cattle farting that is adding methane. We also know large concrete cities and black paved roads absorb and hold heat. That's a very 20th century thing. Could that have an impact? Could be it's not one made made thing, but a combination of a whole bunch of little stuff that MIGHT be changing the weather. Eliminating just one may do nothing. Too many highly qualified scientists still dispute the that conclusion. Their position is based on suspect data, measuring techniques and statistics. And you’re wrong about the warming trend not going away. The climate has been getting hotter and colder in a cyclic pattern for a very long time. Who knows, there are probably cycles within cycles.

The unfortunate truth is we don’t really know what is happening or why. We know that CO2 will absorb the sun’s energy. But so can methane. Some even speculate that it’s all the beef cattle farting that is adding methane. We also know large concrete cities and black paved roads absorb and hold heat. That’s a very 20th century thing. Could that have an impact? Could be it’s not one made made thing, but a combination of a whole bunch of little stuff that MIGHT be changing the weather. Eliminating just one may do nothing.

]]> By: rachel http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94467 rachel Wed, 01 Nov 2006 07:45:44 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94467 <blockquote>So how are we going to prevent a natural cycle from occuring? Do we even want to?</blockquote> How are we going to prevent it? How we've always prevented natural cycles from occuring: figure out what to do, and do it. And yes, <b>if</b> global warming is going to damage us like the expansion of the Sahara and Gobi has damaged their local populations, we want to stop it--whether it's natural or not. Where would the Dutch be now if they had decided, "Oh, well the sea is rising due to natural causes; we might as well get used to it," back in the Middle Ages? I'm not saying we should leap at the first solution that presents itself without paying attention to its long-term effects; human history is full of projects that seemed like good ideas at the time that worsened the situations they were meant to solve. All I'm saying is that lying back and letting Nature (or human impact) do its worst does not appeal to me. BTW, the warming trend is a fact, and it's not going away.

So how are we going to prevent a natural cycle from occuring? Do we even want to?

How are we going to prevent it? How we’ve always prevented natural cycles from occuring: figure out what to do, and do it. And yes, if global warming is going to damage us like the expansion of the Sahara and Gobi has damaged their local populations, we want to stop it–whether it’s natural or not. Where would the Dutch be now if they had decided, “Oh, well the sea is rising due to natural causes; we might as well get used to it,” back in the Middle Ages?

I’m not saying we should leap at the first solution that presents itself without paying attention to its long-term effects; human history is full of projects that seemed like good ideas at the time that worsened the situations they were meant to solve. All I’m saying is that lying back and letting Nature (or human impact) do its worst does not appeal to me.

BTW, the warming trend is a fact, and it’s not going away.

]]> By: probligo http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94322 probligo Wed, 01 Nov 2006 03:28:42 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94322 Sorry, Hunt report? No, Stern report... Dang!! Sorry, Hunt report? No, Stern report… Dang!!

]]> By: probligo http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94320 probligo Wed, 01 Nov 2006 03:28:01 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94320 OK, dimmy, you just carry on like you do already and make sure that the worst prognostications of the Hunt report actually happen. I just hope that you don't then complain about not getting enough warning when your standard of living declines by 20% or more... Oh, of course!! It will all be Al Gore's fault, or Bill Clinton's won't it!! Me? If I am not living in my little self-sustaining village by the sea at that time, I will be feeding a small population of daisies somewhere within listening range of the surf. OK, dimmy, you just carry on like you do already and make sure that the worst prognostications of the Hunt report actually happen. I just hope that you don’t then complain about not getting enough warning when your standard of living declines by 20% or more… Oh, of course!! It will all be Al Gore’s fault, or Bill Clinton’s won’t it!!

Me? If I am not living in my little self-sustaining village by the sea at that time, I will be feeding a small population of daisies somewhere within listening range of the surf.

]]> By: Jimmy the Dhimmi http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94306 Jimmy the Dhimmi Wed, 01 Nov 2006 03:02:24 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94306 If it is true that Global Warming will cause sea levels to rise 2 feet and drown-out the coastline of Bangladesh, then what should be done if Lewis is right and the vast majority of warming turns out to be non-anthropogenic? If we drastically reduce industrial output in order to erringly reduce greenhouse gasses, then how are Bangladeshis going to rise out of poverty so that they can afford to move, or at least buy a house-boat to survive the inevitable flooding? You better be very sure that global warming is caused by man before you become satisfied with maintaining 3rd-world poverty at its current levels, because this poverty is guaranteed if you prevent industrial growth in these countries (which are predicted to produce the bulk of CO2 in the 21st century). If it is true that Global Warming will cause sea levels to rise 2 feet and drown-out the coastline of Bangladesh, then what should be done if Lewis is right and the vast majority of warming turns out to be non-anthropogenic? If we drastically reduce industrial output in order to erringly reduce greenhouse gasses, then how are Bangladeshis going to rise out of poverty so that they can afford to move, or at least buy a house-boat to survive the inevitable flooding?

You better be very sure that global warming is caused by man before you become satisfied with maintaining 3rd-world poverty at its current levels, because this poverty is guaranteed if you prevent industrial growth in these countries (which are predicted to produce the bulk of CO2 in the 21st century).

]]> By: probligo http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94288 probligo Wed, 01 Nov 2006 02:33:33 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94288 The original question - what will it take to change current policies? Try starting at the top... Brian of Atlanta - Think on this. Some estimates (blame Greenpeace I think put this around) an increase in sea levels of 24" could displace over 100 million people world wide. An increase of 3 feet would displace some 200 million more... Don't believe so? Start in Bangladesh where some 4 or 5 million live already "on the sea". Add in Netherlands, parts of Denmark, large parts of Thailand, Vietnam, parts of southern China and the lower Yangtze... The original question - what will it take to change current policies? Try starting at the top…

Brian of Atlanta - Think on this. Some estimates (blame Greenpeace I think put this around) an increase in sea levels of 24″ could displace over 100 million people world wide. An increase of 3 feet would displace some 200 million more…

Don’t believe so? Start in Bangladesh where some 4 or 5 million live already “on the sea”. Add in Netherlands, parts of Denmark, large parts of Thailand, Vietnam, parts of southern China and the lower Yangtze…

]]> By: Lewis http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94258 Lewis Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:42:57 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94258 As an engineer, I have to question the measurement techniques and statistics used to back the global warming conclusion. There are still many scientists who disagree and the opinions of the "what-have-yous" (does Gore fall into this classification?) don't carry any scientific weight. Hell, even if they could prove a warming trend, they don't know if it's a natural cycle or man-made. So how are we going to prevent a natural cycle from occuring? Do we even want to? I haven't seen any plan for reducing carbon emissions that isn't a pipe dream filled with unrealistic expectations. How can you abruptly eliminate the most fundamental part of modern civilization (fossil fuels)? The pipe dreamers always seem to gloss over that minor point. Do you even know how many of the ordinary everyday items we all take for granted have a significant fossile fuel content? Maybe we should start the analysis by answering that simple little question. Then maybe we can start thinking about a plan. As an engineer, I have to question the measurement techniques and statistics used to back the global warming conclusion. There are still many scientists who disagree and the opinions of the “what-have-yous” (does Gore fall into this classification?) don’t carry any scientific weight.
Hell, even if they could prove a warming trend, they don’t know if it’s a natural cycle or man-made. So how are we going to prevent a natural cycle from occuring? Do we even want to?

I haven’t seen any plan for reducing carbon emissions that isn’t a pipe dream filled with unrealistic expectations. How can you abruptly eliminate the most fundamental part of modern civilization (fossil fuels)? The pipe dreamers always seem to gloss over that minor point.

Do you even know how many of the ordinary everyday items we all take for granted have a significant fossile fuel content? Maybe we should start the analysis by answering that simple little question. Then maybe we can start thinking about a plan.

]]> By: BrianOfAtlanta http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94209 BrianOfAtlanta Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:51:03 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94209 Global warming exists, or at least the majority of scientific evidence indicates that it exists. The boogey man is the conceit that humans are definitely causing a measurable portion of it. I, for one, am wary about taking drastic economic action which may have no measurable effect on the warming of the planet. However, seeing as how London is barely above sea level, I'm not surprised the Brits would be willing to accept a higher cost/benefit ratio. Global warming exists, or at least the majority of scientific evidence indicates that it exists. The boogey man is the conceit that humans are definitely causing a measurable portion of it. I, for one, am wary about taking drastic economic action which may have no measurable effect on the warming of the planet.

However, seeing as how London is barely above sea level, I’m not surprised the Brits would be willing to accept a higher cost/benefit ratio.

]]> By: DosPeros http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94184 DosPeros Tue, 31 Oct 2006 20:37:08 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94184 <blockquote>5 to 20 percent of the world’s annual gross domestic product</blockquote> Please, the relative economic effect will be offset in the increased manufactoring of boats, scuba gear and Jimmy Buffet CD's. Worry-wort.

5 to 20 percent of the world’s annual gross domestic product

Please, the relative economic effect will be offset in the increased manufactoring of boats, scuba gear and Jimmy Buffet CD’s. Worry-wort.

]]> By: kiu http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94114 kiu Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:49:50 +0000 http://donklephant.com/2006/10/31/the-real-threat-of-global-warming/#comment-94114 Blair wants money. Blair wants money.

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