Michael Everett wrote:Daryl wrote:Known fact - climate changes
Known fact - many things influence climate changes
Known fact - there is proven historical evidence regarding human actions influencing climate.
Known fact - human actions do influence climate.
Unknown facts - to what extent does human action influence climate, and how severe will the consequences be?
My opinion - researchers tend to emphasise results that will increase their funding and prestige, however even allowing for that, we are in trouble and it will continue to get worse.
Known fact - We are currently in a minor ice age.
Definition of minor ice age - Any geologically significant period of time when both poles are covered in ice.
Given we're technically in an ice age (albeit probably the first where one pole is not covered by a landmass as well), we can expect to warm up.
Given that, more energy should be put into working out how to cope than in trying to stop it since the climate is always changing.
It's like the ecosystem, a dynamic equilibrium. And trying to interfere with a dynamic equilibrium without truly understanding what is happening is like trying to overhaul a steam engine while it is running. Not a good idea.
*cough* The last ice age ending less than 20,000 years ago also had a north pole that didn't have any land masses on it. The continents of Earth have more or less been in the same shape for the last couple of million years. During which only the south pole has been covered.