Time for change

Bob,

CFC's are greenhouse gases (ghg), so if you are saying CFC's are the (main) cause of global warming then you are at least agreeing that global warming is caused by greenhouse gases. And many greenhouse gases (at least the CFC's) are man-made. In other words: you seem to agree that global warming is caused by human activities.

Many scientists who have been doing the recent research on global warming present their work through the American Geophysical Union. They have no particular political agenda other than to learn how natural processes work and make that information known. Based on the outcome from a considerable number of studies reported in their organization, the AGU has issued a AGU statement about the causes of global warming in 2003. Here are some quotes from their report:

"Human activities are increasingly altering the Earth's climate. These effects add to natural influences that have been present over Earth's history. Scientific evidence strongly indicates that natural influences cannot explain the rapid increase in global near-surface temperatures observed during the second half of the 20th century.

Human impacts on the climate system include increasing concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons and their substitutes, methane, nitrous oxide, etc.), air pollution, increasing concentrations of airborne particles, and land alteration. A particular concern is that atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide may be rising faster than at any time in Earth's history, except possibly following rare events like impacts from large extraterrestrial objects. ..."

"The unprecedented increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, together with other human influences on climate over the past century and those anticipated for the future, constitute a real basis for concern."

Since the publication of the above cited AGU report evidence has further grown for anthropogenic greenhouse gases being the major cause of global warming and carbon dioxide playing a more and more important factor . For an individual, the easiest way to help mitigating climate change is to reduce the energy consumption (or generally consume less goods) which will almost automatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well as the emissions of other greenhouse gases.

The bottom line of my text above is that we should treat Nature with more respect and in all decisions carefully evaluate any effects on Nature. Someone who respects Nature and regards mankind as a part of a larger whole would never dream about using up non-renewable resources in a short time nor would this person contaminate the environment with large amounts of pollution.

Global warming doesn't primarily ask for a technical solution but for a different thinking and attitude. We must regain the true meaning of life . We incarnate to train those personality traits, which will finally lead to perpetual harmony with ourselves and with our environment as well as to inner calm and peace. This goal can only be reached with a respectful treatment of Nature.

Even if vegetation is sometimes releasing a little bit of CO2, the net effect is clearly a conversion of CO2 into oxygen (O2) and sugar (C6H12O6) called photosyntheses. The following text is an exerpt from the online Biology Book of Estrella Mountain community college, which is a recommended source for details about the role of our vegetation.

„...Plants may be viewed as carbon sinks, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and oceans by fixing it into organic chemicals. Plants also produce some carbon dioxide by their respiration, but this is quickly used by photosynthesis. Plants also convert energy from light into chemical energy of C-C covalent bonds. Animals are carbon dioxide producers that derive their energy from carbohydrates and other chemicals produced by plants by the process of photosynthesis.

The balance between the plant carbon dioxide removal and animal carbon dioxide generation is equalized also by the formation of carbonates in the oceans. This removes excess carbon dioxide from the air and water (both of which are in equilibrium with regard to carbon dioxide). Fossil fuels, such as petroleum and coal, as well as more recent fuels such as peat and wood generate carbon dioxide when burned. Fossil fuels are formed ultimately by organic processes, and represent also a tremendous carbon sink. Human activity has greatly increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in air. This increase has led to global warming, an increase in temperatures around the world, the Greenhouse Effect. The increase in carbon dioxide and other pollutants in the air has also led to acid rain, where water falls through polluted air and chemically combines with carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides, and sulfur oxides, producing rainfall with pH as low as 4. This results in fish kills and changes in soil pH which can alter the natural vegetation and uses of the land. The Global Warming problem can lead to melting of the ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica, raising sea-level as much as 120 meters. Changes in sea-level and temperature would affect climate changes, altering belts of grain production and rainfall patterns...“

The lag of CO2 behind temperature in ice core samples does by no means prove that the current warming cannot be caused by CO2. Earlier warming periods after ice ages back in history have not been triggered by CO2, but no one here has made this claim. In other words: the causes for the initial warming after ice ages are different from the causes of our current global warming. (see e.g. this article in NewScientist

On the other hand, no climate scientist does seriously challenge the idea that more CO2 heats the planet.

The current global warming is clearly caused by an increase of greenhouse gases as a result of human activities. A recommended reading is the special report of climate change of NewScientist where many common misunderstandings of sceptists are discussed.