THE BIG QUESTION, the one that simply will not go away, much as we might want it to, is: are we experiencing climate change, and, if so, is it "natural", cyclical, temporary, or is it permanent, and caused by human activity?
There is a widespread misconception that this is still a wide open question, because there is more than one point of view on the matter. But it really isn't all that open. The weather and climate HAVE changed, by whatever cause.
According to the crusading al gore, the discussion is over, and global warming is real, and indisputably caused by human industrial activity. That isn't quite true, but its close.
A survey of all who hold doctorates in chemistry, physics, orany of the biological sciences reveals that the verdict is virtually unamimous. Humans are the culprit. A little digging soon reveals that scientists who dispute this are either on the payrolls of corporations, or possessed of false credentials.
It is easy to measure the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, and to compare this with the amount present in previous decades. It is also easy to estimate rather accurately how much carbon industrial activity, including cars and factories, inject into the atmosphere annually.
Further, it is possible to demonstrate the impact, both in theory, and in practice, that this added carbon has in enhancing the heat retention tendency of the atmosphere.
And the numbers all add up. We the people add such and such amount of carbon each year, carbon which would otherwise not be there, it has such and such an impact, in theory, and the same in practice.
Not only is the handwriting on the wall, it is nearly engraved in stone.
Anyone over the age of forty can easily see that the weather and overall climate have changed. Its time to start planting trees, billions of 'em.
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