rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

Exactly!!! -- Somebody who understands!!!

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

And somebody else who understands. And the previous poster had it exactly correct - "climate change" actually is being caused by those who see an opportunity for a money grab, and even worse, by those who wish to control the world according to their distorted and totally unworkable desires!!! Other than that, there is no such thing as man-made climate change!!!!!

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That is the basic cause.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I agree that the climate has undergone drastic changes over the age of the earth and that our climate has been remarkably stable over the history of man. However, past performance is no guarantee of future results, and even relatively small climactic changes can have large effects on us (a single volcano in the 1800s led to several years of cool weather globally, which had a strong impact on agriculture). Climactic change has the potential to destabilize the world even more than it is currently destabilized, so I believe that we have to try to control it. Or at least mitigate its effects slightly.

Yes, it is arrogant of us. But Man has a long history of arrogance. Let's use it to our advantage.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

The highways are sure a lot more crowded than they were just 15 years ago.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

If it is not made by man and is a result of the sun becoming warmer or our orbit around the sun what should we do? Our sun at present is in a 11 year cycle of increased heat. I'm not sure but I believe that particular cycle is almost over.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Haven't been keeping track of the 11 year solar cycle but I believe it is currently at a minimum. That cycle doesn't affect our weather directly. It affects the ionosphere, where radio waves see the largest effect.

Whether climate change is directly attributable to man or not, we should try to address the problem and mitigate the effects.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Four times more methane. There's your answer.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Two issues being discussed here; climate change and world population. Call me a denier, but I believe that climate change is a function of solar and planetary physics and as such is beyond our control. So whether we are in a warming phase or approaching a cooling phase, we need to call on humans' true superpower. Adaptation. We have become the dominant life-form on the planet by adapting to whatever conditions are presented to us. We migrated from tropical Africa to polar conditions in the north by adapting and we need to continue that process.

Regarding population growth, it is well understood that population growth is inversely proportional to the level of development for any culture. The more advanced a culture, the lower the birth rate. We need to stop the migration of people from 3rd world countries to first world countries and raising their birthrate. Instead give them the means (technology) to develop into first world cultures in their own countries and lower their birthrates as they progress. The advent of capitalism starting with the industrial revolution has done more elevate the standards of living for people than any other system ever! That means using fossil fuels until better sources of energy are developed that can compete on an even basis. Again, adaptation is our superpower.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Then I suppose we need to do something about the sun's cycle.....

JBuckley

I keep wondering, what was the earth's population before the "Flood"?

Consider that 71% of the earth's surface is covered by water. (Seas, rivers and lakes),
and 33% of the earth is desert sands, I am thinking that there is plenty of room
for at least double the population of today.
The biggest problem is not the pollution, but the fact that Human beings are not willing
to get along with each other.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

No. The solar output from the sun has been measured accurately during the current period of climate change/warming, and it has not changed appreciably - it moves regularly in 11 year cycles (note that the amount of solar irradiance follows the sunspot cycle). The change in temperature, the decline of sea ice (which reflects energy) and the resulting change in sea level is undeniable (if you choose to believe the actual data)

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

You cite a lot of impressive data that shows that the temperature on earth is rising. You dismiss the effect of solar radiation because studies have shown that it is relatively the same over some period of time. NASA, whose studies you reference also published papers on long-term climate change that is influenced by the elliptical nature of the earths' orbit and changes in the precession of earth's orbit.

By dismissing the behavior of the sun, you conclude that climate change is caused by increases in CO2. That's not a given either because higher CO2 levels in the past have not led to higher temperatures. Computer models that predict a dire future due to CO2 levels cannot predict the past from actual conditions. Ever wonder why?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Pretty conclusive evidence that CO2 is at an all time high and that it IS related to temperature change. Yes, there have been other events that have influenced climate change, but at present CO2 is the big driver. I encourage you to read both papers and then tell what you disagree with or present contradicting data. NASA, believes it, NOAA believes it, EPA believes, NCAR believes it, NCDC believes it, and most (not all) of the world’s climate scientists believe it, so I believe it.

I certainly agree with the original premise that increasing population is one factor that drives CO2 levels, but there are others as well.
https://climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/24/graphic-the-relentless-rise-of-carbon-dioxide/
https://archive.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/documents/temp-and-co2.pdf

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Unchecked population growth is the main driver of climate change. At some point humans will have to address the problem or mother nature will do the job AND mother nature has NO mercy! This is the main reason I simply cannot justify helping nations that will not help themselves; throw money at these nations for food and disaster relief and they simply have more children!

bwa