8 Arguments Against Global Warming

In this post I wanted to take a look at some of the arguments against climate change, or against our role in it as a species.  Some scientists agree that our world is getting warmer, but not everyone agrees on why.  Then there are some that believe the climate is actually growing colder!

Peter Ferrara wrote an article for Forbes.com titled, Sorry Global Warming Alarmists, The Earth Is Cooling, in May of 2012.  His article is about how the Earth is actually starting to cool down, due to naturally occurring temperature cycles. He attended the International Climate Change Conference sponsored by the Heartland Institute, that month, and came to his conclusions after hearing the speakers.  It appears that, not only did he attend, he spoke as well.  Mr. Ferrara is also a director for the Heartland Institute.  This institute considers itself the "international headquarters of the climate realists".

The article states at one point that the oceans undergo a natural process where the colder water deeper in the oceans cycle up to switch with the warmer water.  That then affects the air temperature and can cause it to change by the degrees currently seen.

The article goes on to discuss more but I had to stop reading.  He keeps calling the other scientists alarmists, and accusing them of things like, "personal attacks, ad hominem arguments, and name calling, combined with admissions that they can’t defend their views in public debate".  He doesn't seem to be behaving much better in his article.

So moving on...

One point that keeps coming up in my research is that climate is a confusing issue that we really do not know enough about.  Also, there are other factors involved such as politics and economy.  The video below was posted on Youtube in 2011 and is a news report from Fox Business.  The video presents the idea of global cooling but then adds in economic issues, even mentions "the mob"! Apparently, global warming is better for the economy than global cooling...

Oh boy... I really did want to try to remain impartial and research and write this post with an open mind, but it is getting really difficult.  Kill all the cows because of methane? Really?? I think Vermont (Cow Power!) would have something to say about that!

I think this gives you a pretty good idea of the war that is raging between the two sides. Both sides claim to have science on their side. There are economic issues, political issues, social issues and so much more involved in this topic of global warming/cooling.  Lets break down this "realist" side of the argument with a good ol' fashioned list.

American Policy Roundtable summed up 8 Arguments Against Global Warming from Heartland Institute (and then I summed it up some more):

1. We, the people, are not the cause.  There are scientists that just don't believe there is enough evidence to support the theory that gases released by people are causing climate change.
2. Pffft, you can't prove that it's getting warmer!  There is no temperature data that proves the climate is getting warmer.
3. Computers are puppets.  Predictions based on computer models are not accurate.  People can manipulate the data to make the results say whatever they want.
4. The opposition is reading it wrong.  A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is often quoted incorrectly by "alarmists". In fact, it should be interpreted to support the "realists".
5. A little warmth might not be bad...   Warmer temperatures + Vikings = Settling of Greenland
   Even warmer temperatures were experienced during the development of the first civilizations. Obviously, warmer temperatures make people want to settle down and work harder. So forget Obama, all we need is a little warming of the climate to boost the economy!
6. It costs too much to fold, so let it ride!  Let us say, for the sake of this list, that gas emissions are causing climate change.  It would cost way too much to try to stop emissions now, and it wouldn't lead to much of a change; just a lowly reduction of .14 degrees Celsius.
7. States will suffer and budgets will burst! States went on shopping sprees in the 1990's and now can't pay their credit card bills. Still, they continue to spend money on frivolous things like, "greenhouse gas reduction programs".  These programs do nothing except waste hard-earned money and take away jobs.
8. Don't live your life with regret!  Why try to stop climate change now? Let's do some research, and then, once the ice-caps have melted, the coral reefs are all bleached, and NYC is under water, THEN let's do something about it! 

Screenshot from The Day After Tomorrow 

Alright, I may have come off as sounding a little biased, but I did try!! If I squint reaaallly hard, some of those points may make some sense.  I know where I stand on the issue of climate change, and am comfortable in my beliefs.  I encourage you to do some of your own research and take a stand.  Even if that stand is on the other side. 

**Update 5/7/13 - I just wanted to make sure that I was clear about my beliefs on the topic of climate change. I believe that climate change is happening. I believe that it is a naturally occurring phenomenon that we have accelerated. I believe that we can still do something about it, but we also need to start adapting to the changes in our climate and weather.