Global Warming Is Our Fault

According to a recent major climate study by thefutures and the futures of their children. Ironically,
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), therefossil fuels are responsible for actually fostering in
can no longer be any doubt that humans are at leasthumans the values most currently harbor. Us humans
partially responsible for global warming. The studywant more than we actually need to survive and it's
concludes that a global temperature rise of 5° Cthose wants that fuel the economy which consumes
is possible by the year 2100. This global warmingthe fuels and releases CO² into the
trend has already begun to have an astonishingatmosphere. If we weren't inclined to drive a huge
effect on global climate patterns, storm intensities,SUV just because our neighbor has one, then the
and sea level rise in low-lying Pacific islands like Tuvalu.problem might not be so bad. But, just like the
There is no longer any doubt that drastic measuresJoneses, we must have the huge McMansion with
must be undertaken to mitigate the advance oftwo gas-guzzling SUVs in the garage. We must have
global warming. To do this will require a sea-change inan iPod or and iPhone. But we don't really need these
the way we all look at and care for the planet thatthings but their availability means that the
supports us. To engage change we must firstatmosphere is just that much more damaged.
understand the cause so that we may short-circuitAre we willing to make the sacrifices it will take to
the effect.slow down or stop global warming? Will we value the
Q: What is the fundamental cause of global warming?state in which we leave the planet or will we continue
The fundamental cause of global warming, knownto value trips to sparkling beaches? Will we value the
also as climate change, is carbon dioxide, orfuture of our children or will we worry only about
CO². CO² is what is known as aourselves now, in the moment, with no regard for
"greenhouse gas". Greenhouse gases absorb heatthe future?
radiation from the sun and then traps it inside of theQ: What part of global warming is a result of natural
atmosphere. Historically, that is to say pre-Industrialsolar activity?
Age, more radiant solar heat was reflected back intoSome argue that humans are not the cause of global
space, keeping the planet from overheating.warming, rather the sun is the sole cause. And they
CO² is the main greenhouse gas componentwould not be wholly mistaken in this debate for the
that enables this trapping of solar heat. CO²sun does indeed go through cycles of solar
content in the atmosphere is currently around 380maximums and minimums and the sun is coming into
parts per million, or ppm. That is more than a 1/3the peak of the maximum end of its cycle now. The
increase over atmospheric CO² 1000 years ago.amount of solar radiation reaching the earth's surface
And according to the IPCC, atmospheric CO²today is 1/3 higher than it was in earth's infancy. The
levels could increase to as much as 500 ppm by thelast ice age ended just about 11,000 years ago, which
year 2100. The implications if that happens arewas preceded by a period of warming. So called "little
catastrophic.ice ages" occur on regular cycles with warming trends
Q: What are we doing that causes climate change?in between. We are currently nearing the end of the
What is causing this damaging build-up of CO²latest such cycle when naturally occurring warming is
in the atmosphere? Two words: fossil fuels. Theseat its height. But IPCC has proven as scientific fact
fuels are derived from crude oil and are also knownthat human activity is contributing to the problem. As
as hydrocarbons. Burning hydrocarbons releasesit happens, this solar warming combined with the
massive amounts of CO² as a component ofeffect humans are having from fossil fuel emissions
exhaust. that CO² can linger in the atmosphereare magnifying the rise in temperatures beyond
for 1000 years before it is eliminated by naturalnatural limits - limits that current life on earth are
processes. So, every metric tonne of CO² thatbound to. So, while the sun is contributing to some
we pump into the atmosphere as a by-product ofextent to the overall temperature increase, it is not
burning hydrocarbons will be there for centuries andthe primary cause global climate change. Humans are.
we're adding thousands of tons every day.Q: So, what can be done?
Oil, which our entire transport infrastructure dependsWell, the simplest things that can be done include
on, is not the only culprit contributing to globaltaking personal responsibility for how we use fossil
warming. Coal, also a hydrocarbon, is usedfuel energy. Individually, we can drive less and
extensively all over the world as fuel to generateconserve more. We can turn off a light if we don't
electric power. But, despite the growing problemneed it. More serious commitment to reducing fossil
posed by the burning of fossil fuels, the worldfuel emissions might involve the inclusion of
population is still growing.energy-saving features in our homes or the
That population growth will require more ofinstallation of renewable energy systems such as
everything. That will in turn require more energy towind turbine or solar power electricity generation. If
produce food and all the things western civilizationwe were all to conserve energy in our own individual
needs to remain comfortable and happy. Oil is usedways, we can significantly reduce the amount of
to make thousands of products, not the least ofCO² that enters the air we breath and slow
which is plastics. All of this will require even morethe effect of global warming enough to buy more
burning of fossil fuel hydrocarbons furthertime to further reduce human impact to our
exacerbating the problem with CO² emissions.environment.Of all the renewable energy choices
Q: What do we think about climate change and howcapable of supplanting fossil fuel hydrocarbon
will we value the planet?CO² emissions, solar is most prolific. Solar
Many people still resist the idea that their dailypower generation has the potential to displace millions
activities are contributing to a problem that may veryof tons of CO² gas in the atmosphere and that
well have enormous consequences for their ownis a goal worthy of the investment.