Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

With global warming such a key topic these days why doesn't the brain trust in America and around the world look at some simpler solutions than just simply saying eliminate fossil fuels. Why don't they understand that all these electric cars are going to need massive improvements in our power plants -- and what will run these power plants? Fossil fuel of course unless someone is going to build about 60 Hoover dams or duplicate the TVA project all over the country! How about taking 1" strips of silver Mylar and seeding space above the Exosphere (to keep interference with satellites at a minimum). There has also been a proliferation of giant warehouses across the nation, in the 500,000 to 2,000,000 variety (at least in our area). These huge boxes have replaced trees and grass that is somewhat reflective with dark grey or black roofs, and giant black parking lots. Why not require any buildings with a size of greater than 25,000 sq. ft. to use silver paint on the roofs. I wonder how much impact painting a 5 acre parking lot white and having black lines would have -- would look pretty cool though! Why don't we hear more about thermal energy? It seems everyone is so into solar and wind when everywhere in America we have constant underground temperatures that range from about 50 to 56 degrees. Why aren't we utilizing this? Groundwater heat pumps are extremely efficient and while the upfront cost is a lot, if it was being done in large scale the cost would likely come down as multiple companies competed for the projects. It seems everyone with any authority is looking for one silver bullet that will end global warming. Why not do a lot of smaller projects that will collectively add up to a greater benefit?

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

You and I think a lot alike. It’s interesting that when the temperature is 20 degrees above average in august, it’s global warming. When the temperature is 20 degrees above average in January, it’s a beautiful day. When the temperature is 20 degrees below average in January, it’s climate change. When it’s 20 degrees below average in august, it’s a wonderfully cool day.

People only complain about climate change when they are uncomfortable.

40-43 years ago I’d record the weather on a calendar. I did this for about five years and interestingly we had just as many above or below “average “ temperatures as we have now. I’m glad we’ve had global warming. If the weather today was like it was 17,000 years ago I’d be setting under two miles of glacial ice.

rit z Loc: Upstate New York

Climate has been changing for millions of years. Antarctica was once covered in lush forest. George Carlin, years ago did a great bit about climate change and it made more sense than any scientific explanation I have heard. The conclusion was that after all the earth has been through floods,droughts,massive volcanic eruptions bombardment by cosmic rays,Solor winds,plate tectonics shifting, ihuge meteors crashing and we have the nerve to think we are going to destroy it all with cows farting and a few styrofoam cups thrown around. The planet has gone through much worse and will adjust and be just fine. We the people on the other hand may be f—-ed




through much worse and will ge just fine. We the people way b
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will be just fine

rit z Loc: Upstate New York

Climate has been changing for millions of years. Antarctica was once covered in lush forest. George Carlin, years ago did a great bit about climate change and it made more sense than any scientific explanation I have heard. The conclusion was that after all the earth has been through floods,droughts,massive volcanic eruptions bombardment by cosmic rays,Solor winds,plate tectonics shifting, ihuge meteors crashing and we have the nerve to think we are going to destroy it all with cows farting and a few styrofoam cups thrown around. The planet has gone through much worse and will adjust and be just fine. We the people on the other hand may be f—-ed

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

But if it were not for "climate change", Al Gore would only be a political millionaire!

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

"Climate change" is just a political opportunity to exert control. Humans are not causing the Earth to heat up. CO2 is what green plants use as food--it's not a pollutant. As the human race expands and becomes more dependent on plants for food, the need for more CO2 exists, not less. I read somewhere that some Botanists are worried that the atmosphere is deficient in CO2 and yet the idiot politicians are trying to cut it down.

The amount of "warming" that is reported is also highly suspect. A lot of the recording instruments are located in cities and are adjacent to hot spots (large parking lots, etc.).

The US has cut its "greenhouse gases" emissions by about 20% in the last decade, but the rest of the World has not done so--China and India and other developing countries are increasing their levels, and they have a lot more people than we do. It doesn't really matter, though. The Earth will get through this just fine. I think we're on the edge of a new Ice Age, anyway.

AtomicZ Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

I agree, the “EV” people don’t realize that it takes a lot of fossil fuel to build a vehicle and mine and make batteries an then charge those batteries.

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

Read "Not by Fire but by Ice".

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

bikinkawboy Loc: north central Missouri

In moberly Missouri the little weather recording unit used to set adjacent to a concrete sidewalk in the sun surrounded by an asphalt parking lot and paved street. In the summer, when riding a motorcycle the difference between the temperature in town and the country was astounding. But the hot temperatures were the official ones reported to the weather service.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

One has to look back at when this concern started, and possibly who led that movement. The Global Warming topic was championed by Al Gore shortly after, or around the time of, the loss of his chance to become president. It also was one of the warmer summers that year. In order to maintain some sense of relevance, Al championed Global Warming.

Of interest is the number of Global Warming conferences that were canceled due to blizzards. After a number of weather record-setting low temperatures, Al changed the mantra to Climate Change. This way regardless of the direction the temperatures took, he'd be correct. He managed to garner enough followers to initiate an almost religious cult focused on Climate Change.

Scientists, who make their living from government grants, seemed to fall in line with this cult and that keeps the grant money flowing. However, there are some notable scientists, who have sufficient income from other sources, who debunk all this Global Warming/Climate
Change fervor and provide their evidence to refute the cult.

Now, I do agree with the theme of your post that those driving electric vehicles tend to overlook the fact that their power is coming from some potentially polluting source. They only know that they are not relying on the "evil" fossil fuel industry directly.

Now, if one really wants to generate some concern, dihydrogen monoxide should probably be the topic of focus. According to the World Health Organisation, inhaling dihydrogen monoxide is the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide. The list of hazards from this substance is staggering.
--Bob

photon-collector Loc: Tampa Bay Area, Florida

Ian Rutherford Plimer is an Australian geologist, professor emeritus of earth sciences at the University of Melbourne, professor of mining geology at the University of Adelaide, and the director of multiple mineral exploration and mining companies.

He has published 130 scientific papers, six books, and edited the Encyclopedia of Geology.


PLIMER : "Okay, here's the bombshell. The volcanic eruption in Iceland. Since its first spewing of volcanic ash, it has, in just FOUR DAYS, NEGATED EVERY SINGLE EFFORT you have made in the past five years to control CO2 emissions on our planet - all of you.


Of course, you know about this evil carbon dioxide that we are trying to suppress - it's that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live and grow and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans and all animal life.


I know....it's very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up till midnight to finish your kids "The Green Revolution" science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacationing at home instead of abroad, nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your 50 cent light bulbs with $10.00 light bulbs.....well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the tubes in just four days!


The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in just four days - yes, FOUR DAYS - by that volcano in Iceland has totally erased every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, carbon. And there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this crud at any one time - EVERY DAY.


I don't really want to rain on your parade too much, but I should mention that when the volcano Mt Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the entire human race had emitted in all its years on earth.


Yes, folks, Mt Pinatubo was active for over one year - think about it.


Of course, I shouldn't spoil this 'touchy-feely tree-hugging moment and mention the effect of natural solar and cosmic activity, and the well-recognized 800-year global heating and cooling cycle, which keeps happening despite our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change.


And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud, but the fact of the matter is that the wildfire season across the western USA and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon in our world for the next two to three years. And it happens every year.


Just remember that your government just tried to impose a whopping carbon tax on you on the basis of the BOGUS 'human-caused' climate-change scenario.


Hey, isn't it interesting how they don't mention 'Global Warming' anymore, but just 'Climate Change’.


It's because the planet has COOLED by 0.7 degrees in the past century and these global warming advocates got caught with their pants down.


And, just keep in mind that you might yet have an Emissions Trading Scheme - that whopping new tax - imposed on you by your government, that will achieve absolutely nothing except make you poorer.


It won't stop any volcanoes from erupting, that's for sure.

photon-collector Loc: Tampa Bay Area, Florida

And dihydrogen monoxide is in all of our drinking water!

Bayou

wireloose

If only politicians were that competent! Co-opting virtually the entire global scientific community, melting glaciers around the world, changing all the global climate temperature databases to make it look hotter. They might even be able to pass legislation, and get re-elected without needing millions of dollars from the oil and defense industries and the like

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Yes, a certain amount of dihydrogen monoxide is contained in our drinking water. The best filters available can't filter all of it out.
--Bob