Prompt action can slow global warming and reduce some of its impact
On Friday, February 2, 2007, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)—the leading international group of climate scientists—published a 20-page summary [pdf] of a much longer scientific report, which confirms global warming is now “unequivocal” and states with more than 90 percent certainty that human activity “very likely” has been the primary cause of rising temperatures worldwide since 1950.

The report summary also says that global warming is likely to continue for centuries, and that it is already too late to stop some of the serious consequences it will bring—even if mankind could somehow hold the line on greenhouse gas emissions worldwide starting today.

Despite those grim conclusions, however, the report does say that there is still time to slow global warming and to lessen many of its most severe consequences if we act quickly. At the same time, the IPCC report avoids prescribing specific strategies, leaving that to policymakers worldwide, the audience for which the report summary was prepared.

This article answers some of the most common questions about the IPCC report and its predictions for the future of our planet.

Complete article

Is it factories that is causing this or is it just the normal daily activies that we do everday that can happen at home? I do not see what I could be doing that is making the Earth warm up so much like that... except maybe a car... they want us to go back to horse and carriage or what? Though I wouldn't mind that but that means we would fall WAY behind... back to sail boats instead of steam ships... no flying because that would cause "bad err stuffs" in the air stuff like that... factories what about them?

I do not see what we can do to help it sense it is already too late... but I go with Dip though with the volcaneos they do not necssarly need to erupt to spew out the deadly gases... there is valcaneos all under water... ring of fire.. hawii stuff like that... or least I think they do not need to be too active. I can say we are maybe "making the global warming happen faster" but as I said in another similar post we have not really kept record of weather for too long this all could be natral... what types of proof do they got that is "truely" us humans were the main ones to lead this?

Though we are pretty potent... I suppose you really do not need to do alot of reaserch to find things that are fairly fatal to the enviroment... things people might see everyday might never occur to them that it might be extreamly bad... but who knows. If anything I think it is a little of everything both the world and humans not just one or the other... though I prefer the Earth doing it sense it is Mother Nature herself deciding the temperture

It is intresting but scary at the sametime... but if it is unstoppable... what are we going to do? Worry? Bleh I will just go day by day living life as happy as possible along beside my husband's side... Voradan! And posting here on UO:F!

-RMS Carpathia-

*sigh*

hehe

The last 2 known "Global Warmings" which have occured and there is evidence of happend 249 million years ago, and 150 million years ago.

Those were 99 million years apart, the last one was 150 millions years ago, that's 51 million years difference, Terra is due.

I am 100% sure humans didn't cause it either of those 2 times.

maybe not, maybe it was toxic dinosaur breathe? Regardless I still think that people should be a little more pro active & responsible for their environment.

Regardless of whether it's happening, or if we're causing it, do we need to find a reason to change our ways, to improve our lives and the lives of others by going "green"?

Irratates the hell out of me when people !!!!! about doing simple things like joining recycling schemes or doing something simple like changing their light bulbs for the low energy ones

I don't think humans are destroying the environment all by themselves. I sure don't think we are helping it out any tho, either.

Naw we're just accelerating it
We were probably due for another ice age, our "input" has just accelerated it.

I'll agree we're helping accelerate it, but not so much as is speculated. Not even close.

I also agree with Adam about those talking about doing something but don't. Even though, it's sad to say, recycling is NOT cost-effective, so that's why it has never caught on.

It costs 150% (on average) more to make something out of recycled materials than to make something new.

Recycling isn't the only thing that people as individuals can do tho. There are a LOT of things we can do as individuals to help the problem. I just think that most people don't think about it, or know what to do. Everyone knows about recycling, but some of the more minor things get overlooked.

Heating/cooling can have a big effect. If you are running your heater, turn it 2 degrees cooler. Believe it or not, it makes a difference! On your water heater, turn it 2 degrees cooler. Again, another long term big difference.

When you go shopping, try buying your produce from a local farmers market, or a co-op. Just that alone will cut back on the number of emmissions from transporation. Plus, chances are, you will get less pesticides, and healthier, fresher stuff anyway.

I have a black thumb of plant doom. I can NOT grow plants. Plants scream and try to flee if they see me coming in a nursery. But even I can grow herbs in pots. I can even grow tomatoes... sometimes lol. If you can grow your own veggies, that helps out too. If you don't have a yard, do it in pots. My herbs make a pretty show in the kitchen window.

Change a few of the light bulbs in your house to the low watt flourescent ones. I use those in my office and kitchen. Just changing the 2 rooms has made a dent in my electric bill.

Check with your electric provider. Most of the time, they have info they will gladly send to you about ways to save on power.

Those are all things that are easy to do, not expensive and will actually help save you money, and can make a difference.

Can't comment on that figure..as I don't know enough about recycling and the costs involved..
But at the end of the day, what's more important in terms of cost? The allmighty dollar/pound, or people's lives and the environment?

Recycling here in the UK has taken off quite well, despite a slow start
People were generally not keen on the idea of added inconvienience (*mutters*) but given all the ad's, news and whatnot about Global warming, it seems to have changed alot of people's minds