Global Warming Is Fact, and Denial Won't Change Climate Back

Reader Comments
Back to article

First, I tend to think global warming is real. Sure there may be a component in it from Mother Nature, but Man has also contributed, IMHO.
But even if I didn't believe in it, I'd still want to do what I could to slow it down. Why? Because of the [potential] costs associated with it. What will be the costs if sea level rises by 5 feet? [Nearby] San Francisco Airport will be under water, among other places. If Arizona were to become a permanent dust-bowl, what will the costs be of relocating all its residents? What will the costs be of the increasingly extreme weather conditions (storms/ droughts)? Here in Northern California, we depend on the snow pack in the Sierra Nevadas for our water. What if Global Warming meant that we got 25% less snow? What would be the costs associated with that? (Huge!)
So, to me, even if Mother Nature was mostly responsible for Global Warming, due to the magnitude of the potential costs, I’d want to do what I could to slow it down or avoid it.
thanks.

rick of CA 1:41PM April 23, 2010

You should be ashamed to call yourself a physicist. As a trader I can tell you those charts are 100% Enron grade. I mean seriously, as an intelligent human being you should know that hockey stick graph = scam.
Perhaps physicists aren't as smart as they are made out to be?

anon of CA 2:12PM April 03, 2010

I radder believe that pollution will kill me and my children and grandchilden that big oil who only care about there billion dollar profits and nothing else.

pojoe of IL 1:56PM April 01, 2010

Buffet said the cause of all major problems is OVERPOPULATION --too many people. They create too many demands on goods & services that cause global warming, poverty, etc. Because Bush, Cheney & Rice have wealth based on oil, they began the illegal war to steal Mideast oil & other natural resources. They purposely wasted all kinds of fuel, burning them away in miiitary vehicles, aircraft and ships. Bush sent many government officials on costly airplane rides that burn huge amounts of costly aircraft fuel. Bush increased the useless war on drugs so DEA workers burn fuel all over the world in their transport systems. People are dying from lung disease & polluted water. When people own stock in oil companies, they obey management orders to say warming warnings are fraudulent. TV recently showed how China is far ahead of us as it erects buildings with several energy-saving features. Holland has offshore arrays of huge numbers of wind machines with enormous new and efficient blades. We must demand population regulation all over the world. That includes tax-paid contraception, voluntary sterilization and abortion.

aUra dawn veirs of NE 8:22PM March 31, 2010

Your article gives me hope that the people of the world might finally 'catch on' to the obvious global warming.
I am amazed at some of the reader comments that I am reading here. If anything is a possible hoax, it would be the idea that the oil companies want us to consume less oil.
Stay cool~

SDR of IN 4:56AM March 31, 2010

If using Big Oil as the devil that denies AGW is your big augument for increased AGW you are in trouble. You can only use sound data and sound augument to defend AGW. Also if AGW were true then the only cure is Nuclear Power Plants. Since AGW is religion instead of science you can have FAITH in silly renewables.

Jim T of TX 9:41PM March 29, 2010

climate change is natural.Man is insignificant compared to the power of nature.Running out of fossil fuels is a bigger problem for mankind than climate change .Electricity is expensive and ineficient energy unless it can be stored and produced simply . eg see Loch Awe Hyro electric scheme where water is pumped back up hill at times of low energy requirement. In the sixties there was much more polution from coal fires etc .Buses had to stop running in towns due to smog .Meant my girlfriend had to stay with me overnight as could not get home.I can remember more severe weather events in my childhood than there is at the presebnt time .People esp politicians should not skew science with propeganda and dosent the prees love doombsday senarios. Read proper scientific data and make up your own mind . G

Gordon Maclean 1:46PM March 29, 2010

Want to reduce dependency on foreign oil? How about a car that get's 50+mpg and the technology and infrastructure already exists? Wonder why even though diesel is cheaper to refine however is more expensive at the pump than gas? Wonder why our government hasn't done anything to correct this gouging? It's because your all being steered like sheep into a political agenda. Seems like someone is driving us towards exotic alternative transportation on purpose to me.

Andrew of IL 11:32AM March 29, 2010

The entire foundation for the global warming farce. Pricing carbon emissions! While were at it why don't we increase our dependency on rare earth metals with electric cars? Give all our money to China seeing as they have that market cornered. Ever wonder where the energy to charge the batteries comes from? How about where the material for construction comes from? How often do the batteries need replaced and how much does that cost? Where do the used batteries go? Seem's to really be the environmental green answer (sarcasm). Some trivial mistakes? Like the entire scientific basis? It's simple folks. Global Warming is not scientific law it's a theory and its unproven. No taxation without representation. There's an agenda going on here and it's not saving the planet. And no I'm not a big oil supporter either and I love the planet as much as the next guy and wouldn't hurt it.

Andrew of IL 11:23AM March 29, 2010

Dogma and Political Alliance has more to do with Climate Study than any Science can provide.
What people choose to believe is their own business.
But it remains. Putting billions of tons of Heat Retaining Gas into the atmosphere is a bad thing.
How can anyone not see this obvious fact or deny that adding Heat Retaining Gas to the atmosphere is a bad thing?
Did the physical laws of nature suddenly change in the last 100 years?
People would rather argue, many times rather badly and without logic, than agree on change or finding a solution.
Like the Titanic.

Dave H. of NC 6:33AM March 29, 2010